NEWS
Follow UsDespite consistent showing in the group stage, the Faf du Plessis-led side could only make it to the playoffs as the third-placed side. But when it mattered the most, in the Eliminator, Texas Super Kings did not put a foot wrong against arch-rivals MI New York.
After winning the toss, TSK opted to bowl first, a decision that paid early dividends when Zia-ul-Haq removed the dangerous Dewald Brevis. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis continued his good bowling form, removing Nicholas Pooran as MINY found themselves in a bit of bother at 18/2.
While a good partnership between Monank Patel (48) and Shayan Jahangir (26) combined with a Rashid Khan brilliance (55 off 30) took MINY to 163, they were blown away by a storm named du Plessis.
The South African batter smacked Trent Boult in the powerplay en route to his 47-ball 72, which made the run chase an easy affair for the Men in Yellow. In the post-match presentation, du Plessis emphasised the importance of showing intent, with the Super Kings scoring 49 runs in the powerplay.
“It was real good intent through the powerplay. If you do that, you can put bowlers under pressure. In chases, I feel it is really important to not start slow and showing that intent,” Faf said after the win.
“I was not sure what to do at the toss, it was a case of thinking that they are a team that prefers chasing and putting them in a position, where if we can bowl well in the powerplay…160-165 was an excellent effort (by the bowlers), I felt it (163) was a little under-par,” he added.
“Big scare (Bravo injury) at the moment, mostly because Bravo is such an experienced death bowler. Stoinis bowling that (penultimate) over, he did a fantastic job. Hardie has not bowled much but those two overs at the end, that was a 5-10 run difference (in our favour).”
However, his partner at the other end, Devon Conway, looked scratchy for the majority of his stay at the crease, with his 43-ball 51 reflecting that. However, du Plessis was unperturbed by it, stating that it happens to the best of players.
The left-hander played second fiddle to both du Plessis and Aaron Hardie, with the big Australian all-rounder scoring a 22-ball 40 as the franchise reaped rewards for showing faith in him.
“It is the balance of someone playing on merit, looking at the situation of the game. I try being the aggressor. Sometimes, batting partnerships work like that. On another day, he can take it (the role of aggressor) up and I can play second fiddle. He (Conway) would be frustrated with it (his innings), he was trying to hit the ball. One of those scratchy knocks you go through as a batter,” he added.
“There is also a lesson in that, that you stick in and luckily for him, he got one out of the middle and then the confidence was flowing. But that happens, but you have to make sure you are batting according to the partnership.”
With a nine-wicket win over MINY, TSK ensured their place in the Challenger, where they will face the loser of the contest between San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom on July 27 (Sunday).
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