Texas Super Kings edged out MI New York by 15 runs in the ongoing MLC to grab two crucial points. Batting first, Super Kings posted 176 runs in 20 overs, thanks to a scintillating knock from skipper Faf du Plessis (61 off 38). New York, despite a valiant effort from Rashid Khan (50 off 23) and Monank Patel (61 off 45) were restricted to 161 runs in 20 overs. Stoinis topped the wicket chart for TSK, grabbing 4 wickets.
Match Summary
- Toss: Kieron Pollard (MINY) won the toss and opted to bowl first.
- Texas Super Kings Innings: 176/6 in 20 overs
- Faf du Plessis: 61 (38)
- Devon Conway: 40 (28)
- Key Bowler: Trent Boult (2/48)
- MI New York Innings: 161/7 in 20 overs.
- Monank Patel: 61 (45)
- Rashid Khan: 50 (23)
- Key Bowler: Marcus Stoinis (4/50)
Key Moments
Fantastic Faf
The TSK skipper is in sublime touch in this MLC (209 runs in 4 innings) and continued his merry ways in this match. He went berserk from the outset and provided a rollicking start to his side. The Protea amassed 61 runs off just 38 balls, including 4 fours and 4 sixes, laying a solid foundation for his side. 
Conway Falls Short of Fifty
The Kiwi batter went off the mark in style, smashing a lofted drive over long-off for a six. However, he didn’t look too aggressive and played sensibly. The left-hander looked settled in the middle but failed to convert his start into a big score. He fell prey to Ehsan Adil after scoring 40 runs, including 3 fours and a six.
MI New York Stage a comeback
The Men in Blue and Gold struggled to take wickets with the new ball, managing their first breakthrough after almost 9 overs. However, they made a strong comeback in the latter half of the innings, taking a flurry of wickets quickly. This effort restricted TSK to below 180 runs, despite it initially seeming like 200 runs were within easy reach.
New York’s Top-Order Falters in the Powerplay
The New York-based franchise were rocked hard by TSK’s new ball bowlers in the powerplay. Zia-ul-Haq and Marcus Stoinis operated with the new ball for Men in Yellow and the duo extracted three wickets inside the powerplay, with the latter grabbing two of them. A lackluster batting performance from the top-order batters put MI New York in a difficult position.
Monank Patel and Rashid Khan’s Heroic Efforts in Vain
MI New York were reeling at 52/5 in the 12th over of the innings and were nearing a massive defeat. However, Monank Patel (61 off 45) and Rashid Khan (50 off 23) paired up in the middle and went berserk to crawl New York back in the hunt. The pair added 97 runs for the sixth wicket in quick succession but it was not sufficient for the New York side, as they fell 15 runs short of Super Kings’ total.
Implications and Future Prospects
The Super Kings were provided a rollicking start by the openers but their lower middle-order batters faltered and failed to capitalize on it. Joshua Tromp (3 off 6), Milind Kumar (2 off 2), and Calvin Savage (10 off 6) need to provide the required acceleration to Men in Yellow in death overs. While the bowling has been solid from Faf du Plessis and Co., there’s room for improvement in the slog overs. Fielding remains a concern for the Texas side, as they dropped a few regulation catches in the previous game and repeated the same mistake in this game as well.
On the other hand, Ruben Clinton (41 runs in 3 innings), Kieron Pollard (16 runs in 3 innings), and Tim David (27 runs in 3 innings) have faltered so far in this MLC and need to find their rhythm quickly.
Upcoming Fixtures
- MI New York vs Washington Freedom: July 16 (local time)
- Texas Super Kings vs Washington Freedom: July 19 (local time)
Conclusion
Super Kings registered their second win in this MLC and have moved to number two on the points table, with six points in five matches. They will aim to carry the momentum and solidify their place in the playoffs.
On the other hand, the New York side are sitting at number three on the points table, with three points in four matches. They will need to address their voids to stage a comeback in the next game.
