Former Blackcaps slugger Corey Anderson has blasted a whirlwind player-of-the-match knock in his debut in the inaugural season of the American Major League Cricket Twenty20 competition.
Anderson made the ultimate first impression for his new side San Francisco Unicorns, slaying seven sixes and four fours en route to an undefeated 91 off 52 balls, setting Mumbai Indians New York a daunting total of 215/5 to win.
Despite the best efforts of West Indian duo Kieron Pollard (48) and Nicholas Poooran (40), the New Yorkers fell 22 runs short.
The 32-year-old shared a 129-run fifth wicket partnership with Pakistan star Shadab Khan, who slammed 61 off 30 balls, including five sixes.
Anderson took no prisoners in the New York attack, which featured former Blackcaps teammate Trent Boult.
Boult finished with 2/38 off his four overs in his first MLC appearance.
Anderson played 49 one-day internationals and 31 Twenty20s for New Zealand, highlighted by his 36-ball century against West Indies in 2014 to set a record that has since been surpassed for the fastest in ODI history.
After being hampered by injuries, Anderson - whose wife is American - retired from international cricket in 2020. He has inked a three-year deal with the Unicorns.
On Friday, Blackcaps batter Devon Conway struck a quick-fire half-century for the Texas Super Kings, helping his team to a 69-run win over Los Angeles Knight Riders in Dallas.
