In the crucial eliminator clash of the 2024 Cognizant Major League Cricket, the Texas Super Kings (TSK) executed a near-flawless game plan to beat defending champions, MI New York (MINY) with a comprehensive 9-wicket victory.
When the blue and yellow face-off, there is a lot of fanfare irrespective of the tournament and this showdown was no different. It was the Texas Super Kings who cantered home and won by nine wickets to knock holders MI New York out of MLC 2024.
Captain Faf du Plessis led the Texas Super Kings to a nine-wicket victory over MI New York in the 2024 Major League Cricket Eliminator match. Du Plessis scored 72 runs off 47 balls, while Devon Conway contributed an unbeaten 51 off 43 deliveries. Du Plessis earned Player of the Match honors.
Set a target of 164, TSK’s openers Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway laid a solid foundation. Du Plessis was in sublime form, smashing 72 off 47 balls, including six boundaries and three sixes. The duo put on a 101-run opening stand, nullifying any hopes MI New York had of defending their total.
Earlier in the day, MI New York’s innings started rocky after electing to bat first. Dewald Brevis fell for a duck in the very first over, caught by Stoinis off Zia-ul-Haq. Nicholas Pooran soon followed suit, managing just 8 runs before falling to Marcus Stoinis. At 3/2, MINY was in a dire situation.
Shayan Jahangir (26) and Monank Patel (48) attempted to stabilize the innings with a 49-run partnership. However, the scoring rate was kept in check by disciplined bowling from TSK. Patel’s patient knock of 48 off 41 balls included five boundaries and a six, but Rashid Khan provided the much-needed acceleration. Rashid’s blistering 55 off 30 balls, featuring four sixes and four boundaries, propelled MINY to a respectable total.
Despite Rashid’s heroics, TSK bowlers ensured that MINY couldn’t run away with the game.
With this victory, the Texas Super Kings remain in the competition and await the loser of Qualifier 1 between Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns.
MI New York’s title defense came to an end with this playoff defeat. Skipper Kieron Pollard acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and expressed a commitment to return stronger next season.
[…] TSK has been led by the ever-reliable opening partnership of Faf du Plessis and Devon Conway with the bat and a solid all-round core with the ball. Meanwhile, SFU has relied on several timely contributions from their players with the lone standout – the Karachi-born Hassan Khan. The 25-year-old has lit up the tournament with 164 runs and 8 wickets in his 7 outings. […]