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DALLAS: Faf du Plessis put on a batting clinic with an unbeaten century before Akeal Hosein weaved a tidy spell as Texas Super Kings sealed their spot in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 playoffs with a commanding 39-run win over MI New York on Sunday.
After being asked to bat first, Texas lost Smit Patel (3) early, but that only opened the door for du Plessis to take charge.
The skipper shifted gears instantly, racing to a 21-ball half-century and taking on the MI New York attack with authority.
He found support in Saiteja Mukkamalla (25), who held firm during their 80-run second-wicket stand before falling to George Linde in the ninth over.
Marcus Stoinis then joined du Plessis for a steady 57-run partnership that allowed the former South African captain to settle into a true anchor role. While Stoinis couldn’t quite break free and eventually fell for 25.
Donovan Ferreira then came out to bat and tore into the bowling with a 20-ball 53, matching the fastest fifty in MLC history.
His late-innings onslaught gave du Plessis the perfect foil to continue ticking along, eventually raising his bat for a sublime 103* off just 56 deliveries.
It was his second hundred of the season and eighth in T20s, laced with five fours and nine towering sixes as Texas piled on a daunting 223/4.
Chasing 224, MI New York never truly got into the contest.
Nandre Burger struck early to remove Nicholas Pooran, and then Akeal Hosein put the clamps on the middle order with a miserly 3-15 spell that included the big wickets of Monank Patel (6) and Quinton de Kock (35).
Kieron Pollard did briefly threaten to shift the momentum with a trademark six-hitting spree, especially when he smashed 22 runs off a single over from Noor Ahmad. But the task was a bridge too far.
Pollard’s fighting 70 off 39 balls proved to be a lone hand as the chase fizzled out. Burger and Stoinis came back to snuff out any lingering hopes, restricting MI New York to 184/8 in their 20 overs.
With this clinical win, Texas Super Kings not only preserved their strong run in the tournament but also booked a well-earned place in the MLC 2025 playoffs.
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