Monank Patel's night of emotion and elegance

By Smit Patel

It was an emotional rollercoaster for Monank Patel as he crafted a career-defining innings of 93 off 50 balls against the Seattle Orcas. Even Heinrich Klaasen, the Orcas' captain and a top-ranked white-ball batter, admitted to MI New York coach Mark Boucher that it was among the best innings he had witnessed in a chase.

Monank Patel hit eight fours and seven sixes on his way to a 50-ball 93 © Sportzpics

Monank expertly used his experience on a challenging wicket. His tactical approach was evident in how he selected shots against each bowler. While Klaasen's praise might seem generous considering the game's low stakes and the Orcas' relatively weaker attack, the sentiment resonated with many.

A young fan holding a hand-painted "Monank I love you" banner, along with the wider American cricket community, celebrated one of their own shining brightly amidst T20 stars like Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, and Kieron Pollard. This innings wasn't just the highest score by a domestic batter; it was arguably the finest display by a domestic player in MLC history. This is particularly significant as domestic batting has traditionally been a weak point in the league.

"This innings doesn't surprise me. Monank is a fantastic player," Boucher commented. "That's why he plays for the US as well. I've been watching him in the nets, and his innings against TSK showed me he knows how to score runs. He struggled initially in the first game but persevered, scoring 50 off 30 odd balls, which is ideal for a top-order batter. Today, the conditions were tough in the power play, especially in the second innings. He stuck to the plan, expressed himself, and played some fantastic cricket shots all over the park."

Similar to the game against TSK, Monank avoided the temptation to accelerate too quickly in the tall chase. He respected the conditions, acknowledging the unpredictable bounce of the new ball. Notably, 12 wickets had fallen in the second innings' powerplay over the previous three days. His cautious start of 4 off 12 balls was a deliberate prelude to the onslaught. The fireworks commenced with a stunning shot: a straight-batted club off a length ball on middle leg from Jasdeep Singh, soaring over the midwicket fence. "I liked the cover drive that followed it, but that was a special shot for me," Monank said.

Despite his strength playing down the ground, Monank rarely resorts to cheeky shots behind square. However, this game saw him unleash the lap shot against Jasdeep and Obed McCoy, sending the ball for a maximum. His Midas touch wasn't just about audacious shots; it was his keen understanding of the conditions, awareness of the bowlers, and calculated shot selection that allowed him to explore the area behind him with calculated risk.

"When the bowler keeps bowling hard length after the power play, and the pitch has variable bounce from that length, I played that shot only to bowlers with a height of 6 ft or above," Monank explained. "The ball was extracting variable bounce from tall bowlers. When I was being tested with bouncers, Boucher asked me why I was challenging the speed of the ball and looking to slap them in front of the wicket when the bounce becomes a tad unpredictable in the second innings. He asked me to use the bowlers' pace when you don't trust the wicket truly."

Monank's dominance was such that he raced to 86 while Michael Bracewell played a supporting role with 26 in their partnership. The USA captain praised the Kiwi, with whom he enjoys chasing runs. Their partnership has produced nearly 300 runs across three games: an 80-run stand in a practice match, a crucial 97-run stand against Texas Super Kings, and a match-winning 119-run effort against the Orcas, possibly influencing Bracewell's promotion ahead of Pooran.

"Bracewell is amazing. A behind-the-scenes hero," Monank stated. "He knows what he needs to tell me to help me. He kept telling me to watch the ball hard, which puts you in the zone and prevents you from focusing on the scoreboard. It puts you in such a zone that you keep two shots ready for every delivery. That keeps you away from getting a single negative thought. Your mind never takes over you. Even if I miss, he will come and praise me and finally he will say watch the ball hard every time. Reminds of my partnerships with Rashid last year."

The American captain concluded a memorable final night of the season at the Coliseum Stadium, expressing his desire to represent the USA at the iconic venue in the future. Monank's affinity for the Coliseum awaits the USA chapter and the potential to reignite those emotions.