Romario Shepherd and Quinton de Kock proved 132 was enough because MI New York defended brilliantly under pressure.
MI New York edged Seattle Orcas by five runs in a low-scoring Major League Cricket 2026 contest at Pomona, with Quinton de Kock's composed half-century and Romario Shepherd's incisive spell proving decisive. On a surface that again challenged batters, New York's modest 132 for 8 stood up thanks to disciplined bowling that restricted the Orcas to 127 for 9.
The result lifted MI New York into second place in the standings, while Seattle Orcas slipped to third despite Marcus Stoinis producing an outstanding all-round display. His figures of 3 for 14 and a fighting 36 from 31 deliveries almost dragged Seattle across the line, but they ultimately fell just short.
De Kock anchors a difficult MI New York innings
After winning the toss, Seattle Orcas captain Marcus Stoinis elected to bowl first, a decision that quickly looked justified on another testing Pomona pitch. Batting remained difficult throughout, with stroke-making requiring patience rather than aggression.
Quinton de Kock provided exactly that. The left-hander scored 61 from 46 balls, striking six fours and two sixes while watching wickets tumble around him. His innings accounted for nearly half of MI New York's total and gave the visitors a platform they otherwise struggled to build.
De Kock's two most valuable partnerships came with Nicholas Pooran and Tajinder Singh. He added 47 runs for the second wicket alongside Pooran before sharing a 35-run third-wicket stand with Tajinder. Neither partnership came at a rapid scoring rate, but on a sluggish surface they proved priceless.
"Quinton de Kock's 61 from 46 balls accounted for nearly half of MI New York's total and ultimately proved the match-winning innings."
Shepherd breaks the chase before Stoinis fights back
Seattle's reply never settled into rhythm. The innings unravelled early as MI New York's seamers repeatedly found breakthroughs, reducing the Orcas to 31 for 3 midway through the seventh over.
Romario Shepherd inflicted the early damage. Named Player of the Match, the West Indies all-rounder dismissed Tim Seifert, Shehan Jayasuriya and Shimron Hetmyer to finish with outstanding figures of 3 for 16. Those strikes removed Seattle's experienced top order before the chase could gather momentum.
The Orcas managed six partnerships worth double figures, but none before the final wicket stand exceeded 19 runs. That inability to build meaningful stands reflected the challenges of batting in Pomona and left Stoinis with too much work to do.
Coming in at No. 6, the Australian all-rounder battled throughout his 36 from 31 deliveries. He kept Seattle alive deep into the contest before adding a spirited 30-run partnership with Jasdeep Singh for the tenth wicket. Both players struck identical 15-run cameos from just five balls, briefly threatening an unlikely escape.
For a moment, the momentum appeared to be swinging. Then it ended.
Kieron Pollard dismissed Stoinis with the second ball of the final over, effectively ending Seattle's hopes and sealing a hard-fought five-run victory for MI New York.
Romario Shepherd's spell defines the result
Shepherd's spell deserves top billing despite de Kock's match-high score. On a pitch where every run carried added value, removing three established top-order batters prevented Seattle from ever controlling the chase.
His figures of 3 for 16 complemented de Kock's anchoring innings perfectly. Together they supplied the bat and ball performances that separated the teams in a contest where margins were razor-thin.
Stoinis emerged with plenty of credit despite finishing on the losing side. Few players influence both innings as heavily as he did, first dismantling MI New York with the ball before almost rescuing Seattle with the bat. Yet cricket often rewards partnerships more than individual brilliance, and New York's collective discipline ultimately prevailed.
MI New York climb while the table tightens
Victory moves MI New York into second place in the Major League Cricket standings, while Seattle Orcas drop to third. The result also underlines just how congested the competition has become.
Five of the six teams now sit on six points, with only net run rate separating them. Los Angeles Knight Riders remain bottom of the table on four points, leaving every remaining league fixture carrying significant playoff implications.
Pomona has now hosted two matches in MLC 2026, and both have produced low-scoring contests where bowlers have dominated. Teams arriving at the venue will almost certainly adjust their plans, knowing that disciplined bowling and measured batting are proving far more valuable than explosive stroke-play.
MI New York leave with two valuable points and growing confidence. On pitches like these, they have already shown they know exactly how to win.