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MI New York and Seattle Orcas are set to clash in the season opener of Major League Cricket 2024 at Church Street Park in Morrisville. This promises to be an exciting matchup, with both teams eager to start their campaigns with a victory.
Head-to-Head
The last encounter at this venue saw Heinrich Klaasen’s unbeaten century lead the Orcas to a thrilling 2-wicket win, chasing down a target of 195 runs. While Klaasen and Quinton de Kock remain key players for the Orcas this season, they will miss the services of Shimron Hetmyer, Aaron Jones, and Dasun Shanaka.
Team Previews
MI New York
MI New York, the defending champions, are coming into this season with a well-balanced squad. They had a mixed run in the league stage last year but excelled in the playoffs, clinching the title with stellar performances.
Predicted Playing XI
- Shayan Jahangir
- Monank Patel
- Nicholas Pooran (wk)
- Kieron Pollard (c)
- Tim David
- Steven Taylor
- Dewald Brevis
- Rashid Khan
- Trent Boult
- Ehsan Adil
- Romario Shepherd
Seattle Orcas
Seattle Orcas, runners-up last season, have undergone significant changes. They will look to overcome the absence of key players and put up a strong fight.
Predicted Playing XI
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Nauman Anwar
- Shehan Jayasuriya
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Shubham Ranjane
- Imad Wasim
- Michael Bracewell
- Wayne Parnell (c)
- Harmeet Singh
- Obed McCoy
- Cameron Gannon
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Pitch Report
Church Street Park is known for being a high-scoring venue. A score of 180-185 is often considered par, but teams should aim for at least 200 runs to feel secure. The pitch offers some assistance to bowlers, but overall, it is the batters who tend to dominate.
Weather Forecast
The weather on match day is expected to be partly cloudy with a high of 37 degrees Celsius. Conditions are favorable for cricket with minimal chances of rain.
Winning Prediction
MI New York have a slight edge in terms of squad strength and consistency. With Seattle Orcas making significant changes to their bowling attack, they might struggle on this track. Therefore, MI New York are the favorites to win this match.
Prediction: MI New York to win