AI Simulation, MLC | Texas Super Kings seal finals spot with nervy chase against MI New York

‌Pitch and Weather

The Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas had a healthy covering of grass at the start of the game that helped seamers extract some seam movement off the deck. However, as the game progressed under lights, the surface settled down to become more conducive for stroke making and helped facilitate an otherwise tricky chase.

The weather played good sport throughout the contest, hovering around a pleasant 28°C and aided by a cool evening breeze to present desirable conditions for a knockout encounter.

Toss

Texas Super Kings won the toss and opted to bowl first.

Lineups

MINY XI: Monank Patel, Quinton de Kock (WK), Nicholas Pooran (C), Tajinder Singh, Michael Bracewell, Kieron Pollard, Heath Richards, Tristan Luus, Nosthush Kenjige, Rushil Ugarkar, Trent Boult

TSK XI: Smit Patel (WK), Faf du Plessis (C), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Marcus Stoinis, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira, Calvin Savage, Akeal Hosein, Noor Ahmad, Zia-ul-Haq Muhammad, Adam Milne 

Match Report

Asked to bat first, Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock got MI New York off to a bright start up top, combining for 36 runs in the first four overs before Akeal Hosein scalped the American to hand Texas Super Kings their first breakthrough. Skipper Nicholas Pooran walked out next and immediately declared his intentions with two maximums to cap off the powerplay, taking the score to 56/1. Unperturbed by the departure of Quinton for a 25-ball 33, the Windies power-hitter smashed three boundaries and another maximum to race to 44 off just 29 deliveries but just when he threatened to take over, Adam Milne struck twice in quick succession to temper the momentum. Michael Bracewell (26 off 17) and Kieron Pollard (17 off 13) provided MINY another launchpad heading into the death as the team looked poise for a 180-plus total, but some disciplined bowling and a slew of wickets meant the side were restricted to 167/7 in their 20 overs.

In response, Trent Boult took a trademark first over wicket to kickstart MI's defence and then added Saiteja Mukkamalla's name to his ledger quickly after to leave the Super Kings reeling at 33/2 after five overs. However, once the new ball maestro bowed out of the attack, the experienced pair of Faf du Plessis and Marcus Stoinis seized control with 30 runs in two overs either side of the powerplay's end to breathe some life back into the chase. Bracewell produced a tidy spell to curb the scoring rate, but the quality of bowling lagged at the other end allowing the duo to maintain the required run rate without much ado. Faf soon brought up a 35-ball half-century as the partnership ticked past 80 and even though Bracewell had the final say by dispatching the Proteas, the equation now read just 57 runs required in eight overs. A couple more boundaries from Stoinis in the 16th over and an unbeaten 13-ball 22 from Donovan Ferreira practically sealed the chase with two and a half overs to spare, albeit the Aussie holed out three short of a half-century. Nevertheless, Shubham Ranjane made little fuss to strike a boundary in the penultimate over and seal a finals spot for Texas Super Kings with aplomb.    

Player of the Match

Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis was awarded the man of the match for contributing a wicket with the ball before helping seal a tough chase with a rapid 25-ball 47 under pressure in the knockout game.

Scorecard