Our batting has let us down in the tournament: Faf after TSK's exit

Texas Super Kings’ started the tournament in scintillating fashion, but as the tournament unravelled slowly, the gaps in their squad began to be slowly exposed. Batting has been a major Achilles heel for the franchise in the first edition of the Major League Cricket (MLC), where they have depended on their lower order to bail them out. 

TSK’s skipper Faf du Plessis, who himself hasn’t been in the best of touch, only managed to score 46 runs in seven innings, averaging a paltry 6.57, the lowest average for any batter in the squad. Faf pointed out that ‘batting’ has let them down and pointed at himself for not making a strong impact. 

“Our batting has been below par right throughout the tournament, starting with myself. We scratched our way to most of the totals. Tonight we held some composure and got to a decent total. Fought really hard in the field but they’ve got a really strong middle order. Really tough to find form, especially when the conditions are different on the field and at practice,” Faf said at the post-match presentation. 

Even in the clash against MI New York, Faf was the first batter to be dismissed for just six runs when Trent Boult got him out. At 34/3 after 5.2 overs, TSK were in a spot of bother before their middle-order bailed them out to put a total of 158 after 20 overs. Faf pointed out that the first ten-over phase with the bat hasn’t been quite at an expected level. 

“It’s not like a one-day game where you can take some time, there’s always scoreboard pressure. Some guys have been in good form while others have struggled. We need to really try and dominate the first 10 overs. The second 10 overs is where the damage gets done so it’s about playing well in the first 10,” Faf added. 

On the other hand, Nicholas Pooran led the MI New York to the final in the inaugural edition of the tournament. The message in the dressing room ahead of the clash was quite simple: replicate a win. Pooran pointed out that the duo of Dewald Brevis and Tim David turned the tide around with their batting brilliance. 

“The message was about replicating our performance from yesterday. We felt that we were getting better as a team and were getting contributions from everyone,” Pooran said. 

“The openers gave us a start and Brevis took responsibility to play through that innings and then David came out and played that blinder. We were controlling the game very nicely, we bowled well tonight. Kenjige wasn’t needed tonight. Brevis really wanted to play and he’s grabbed his opportunities.”

With that win, MI New York set up a date in the final of the inaugural season of MLC with an in-form Seattle Orcas.