Texas Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis led from the front as they beat MI New York by 39 runs at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas. After Du Plessis' ton and Donovan Ferreira's joint-fastest fifty in Major League Cricket (MLC) history, Akeal Hosein took a three-wicket haul as Super Kings registered their fifth win of the season. Du Plessis scripted history as he became the first MLC batter to score three centuries. It helped Texas Super Kings qualified for playoffs for the third consecutive time.
Ideal start for Super Kings
Earlier, MI New York skipper Nicholas Pooran won the toss and opted to bowl first. Left-arm spinner George Linde struck early by dismissing Smit Patel for a single-digit score. Du Plessis targetted Ehsan Adil and hit him for a four and two sixes. He took down Trent Boult, hitting the Kiwi pacer for two sixes and a four in the 22-run over. The former South Africa captain reached his fifty from 20 balls in the sixth over. Linde returned to break the partnership. Saiteja Mukkamalla departed for an 18-ball 25.
Du Plessis' ton, Ferreira's slog overs blitz
Marcus Stoinis' six helped Texas Super Kings cross the 100-run mark in the 11th over. Linde took a beating in the 13th over with Du Plessis hitting him for a couple of sixes. Rushil Ugarkar returned to get rid of Marcus Stoinis. The Australian all-rounder scored 25 runs from 22 balls. Ferreira launched a brutal onslaught in the slog overs. In the penultimate over, Du Plessis hit Boult for a four to reach his century from 51 balls. In the final over, Ugarkar faltered. Ferreira hit him for two sixes. Ugarkar struggled and followed it up with five wides. Ferreira hit another six to reach his fifty from 18 balls. On the penultimate ball, he got out for a 20-ball 53. Du Plessi remained unbeaten for 103 off 53 balls. Texas Super Kings posted 223/4.
Poor start for MI New York
In the run chase, Pooran walked out to open instead of Monank Patel, alongside Quinton de Kock. In the fourth over, Pooran was dismissed by Nandre Burger. Hosein came into the attack and got the wicket of Monank for a single-digit score. MI New York were 44/2 after powerplay overs. In his third over, Hosein got rid of De Kock as well. He scored 35 runs from 25 balls. In his final over, the Caribbean left-arm spinner got the wicket of Tajinder Dhillon.
Pollard's knock in vain
Pollard infused life into the run chase as he whacked Noor Ahmad for three sixes and a four in the 14th over. In the next over, he reached his fifty from 24 balls. But Pollard lacked support from the other end as required run rate slipped out of the grasp. Stoinis ended Michael Bracewell's stay at the crease. The Kiwi all-rounder scored 26 runs from 20 balls. In the penultimate over, Pollard was knocked over by Pollard. He scored 70 runs from 39 balls, including five fours and as many sixes. In the final over, Linde and Boult were run out whereas Stoinis dismissed Ugarkar lbw. MI New York managed to post 184/9 and lost the match by 39 runs. With Seattle Orcas winning two in a row, MI New York's chances of making it to playoffs are alive but slim.