Kieron Pollard hit 36 in vain as MI Emirates lost to leaders Desert Vipers, which is the team of another West Indian in Sherfane Rutherford.
MI Emirates made 159 for 6, with captain Pooran getting just 15.
In reply, Desert Vipers made 161 for 5 from 19.1 overs, with Fakhar Zaman getting 67, while Rutherford smashed 21 not out of only eight deliveries.
