DALLAS: Calvin Savage struck an unbeaten 45 and took two crucial top-order wickets to lead Texas Super Kings to a 37-run victory against Seattle Orcas in the last group-stage match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 on Tuesday.
Texas Super Kings after being invited to bat first posted a fighting total of 177-8 in the first innings and curtailed Seattle Orcas to 140-9 to secure a dominant victory.
Faf du Plessis gave the Super Kings a blistering start with a quick knock of 39 runs from 17 balls which featured six boundaries and one six, however, the team slipped to 49-3 in 5.1 overs.
Milind Kumar played cautious innings, scoring 29 off 28 with two sixes before Savage knitted a 43-run partnership with Cameron Stevenson (17).
Savage played a brilliant 27-ball knock, scoring 45 runs with the help of six boundaries and two sixes to help propel the team’s total to 177-8 in their allocated 20 overs.
Ayan Desai and Keemo Paul picked two wickets each for Seattle Orcas, while Cameron Gannon, Nandre Burger and Michael Bracewell bagged one each.
In response, Quinton de Kock and Shehan Jayasuriya helped Seattle Orcas get off to a decent start after losing Ryan Rickelton on the first ball.
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De Kock scored 26 off 19 with two boundaries and one six, while Jayasuriya managed a scratchy 24 with the help of three boundaries and one six.
However, Savage removed both set batters in consecutive overs to reduce the Orcas to 59-3 in 8.1 overs.
The chasing side lost two more quick wickets before Keemo Paul added 39 runs with Shubham Ranjane (16) for the sixth wicket.
Noor Ahmed castled Paul after he had scored 25 off 17 to dash the last remaining hope of the Orcas as the required run rate went above 18.
Seattle Orcas, the bottom-ranked side in the MLC 2024 points table, managed to score 140 runs in 20 overs after losing nine wickets.
Ottneil Baartman led the bowling charts for the Texas Super Kings with three wickets, while Savage and Noor Ahmed picked two wickets each.
Texas Super Kings finished the group stage in third position and will face MI New York in the Eliminator of the MLC 2024.
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