Texas Super Kings registered a dominating 9-wicket win over MI New York in the Eliminator of the Major League Cricket 2024. Marcus Stoinis (2-18) and skipper Faf Du Plessis (72 off 47) played an instrumental role in TSK’s win over their arch-rivals. Devon Conway also registered a superb half-century (51 off 43) while chasing 164.
Electing to bowl TSK had a great start as Zia-Ul-Haq dismissed Dewald Brevis for a nought. Brevis was early into his pull shot lobbing it to mid-wicket in the first over off Zia-ul-Haq. At the other end, Marcus Stoinis came in with the all-important wicket of the dangerous Nicholas Pooran who failed to clear the inner circle and hit it straight to mid-on.
Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir then stood up to the occasion and stitched an important 49-run partnership to guide MI New York to 67 for 2 at the halfway stage. The experienced Dwayne Bravo came up with a breakthrough for the Super Kings, as he got Jahangir to hole one out to long-off. Rashid Khan then came into bat at number 5 and struck a couple of boundaries in the very over to bring in some momentum towards the batting side.
Rashid and Monank played some good shots, scored boundaries in every over, and were able to put some pressure on the bowling unit. However, Rashid’s Afghan counterpart Noor Ahmad dismissed the set Monank Patel to bring TSK back into the contest. Rashid then holed one out straight down to Bravo who caught the ball but stepped onto the ropes giving Rashid a second chance.
Bravo limped off the field in the 17th over Aaron Hardie who came in to finish the over was smashed for two maximums and as many wides in a 19-run over. Rashid brought up a wonderful 50 taking MINY to 150 at the end of the 18th over. With 175-180 on the cards, Stoinis bowled an impeccable penultimate over, conceding four runs and trapping Rashid in front. Hardie dismissed Kieron Pollard and Heath Richards in consecutive deliveries as MINY ended with 163/8 in 20 overs.
In reply, TSK batters got off to a slow start. They survived a mix-up in the very first over as the fielder missed a direct hit and also were a bit dodgy with their running between the wickets. Du Plessis then finally managed to break the shackles scoring a couple of boundaries against Boult in the 6th over. An eventful ninth over had du Plessis nearly run out as Rashid missed the stumps of his bowling. A couple of deliveries later, the ball kissed the stumps but the bails didn’t dislodge from the groove saving du Plessis once again.
Du Plessis reached yet another 50 in the 10th over and at the halfway stage TSK were comfortably placed and were ahead of the game with 74 on the board for no loss. TSK’s scoring rate dipped a bit in the middle overs and they went on through a span of 29 balls without a boundary between the seventh and 12th over, but not losing wickets was an area that eventually helped the Super Kings.
Post a period of no boundaries, Du Plessis banged Pollard for a 19-run over and upped the ante to ensure a comfortable chase for the Super Kings. Kenjige finally broke the partnership dismissing Du Plessis, but it was too little too late for MI New York. Conway and Hardie then joined together for TSK and smashed the bowlers all around the park and completed the chase with nine balls to spare.
TSK shall face the loser of the Qualifier on July 26 in the Challenger while MINY are now eliminated.
Brief Scores: MI New York 163/8 in 20 overs (Rashid Khan 55, Monank Patel 48; Marcus Stoinis 2-18, Aaron Hardie 2-22) lost to Texas Super Kings 167/1 in 18.3 overs (Faf du Plessis 72, Devon Conway 51*; Nosthush Kenjige 1-24) by 9 wickets.
