If Finn Allen’s record-setting 51-ball 151 made the inaugural match of MLC 2025 unforgettable, the second match of the season equaled it in thrill, featuring two teams – whose more famous siblings have engaged in numerous contests at the IPL – delivering a nail-biter filled with as many twists and turns as a 40-over match can offer.
In pursuit of 186 for victory against Texas Super Kings, MI New York appeared to be out of the game, then surged back into contention, only to falter again, regain their momentum, but ultimately fell three runs short as Daryl Mitchell, who had instigated the earlier turning point in the match, bowled a final over consisting of yorkers and slower deliveries, allowing just five runs to the ninth-wicket duo of Tajinder Singh and Naveen-ul-Haq.
This was a remarkable comeback for TSK, as they shifted the outcome in their favor despite MINY requiring 27 runs from 20 balls with six wickets remaining.
TSK score an achievable total
Earlier, during the first half of the Super Kings’ innings, it appeared unlikely that they would achieve a formidable total. While Devon Conway was present at the crease with a score of 36, it had taken him 26 balls to reach that figure. Additionally, three wickets had already fallen at the other end.
That number increased to five by the conclusion of the 12th over, with Conway still only managing 38 runs from 28 balls.
However, a shift began to occur at that point. Calvin Savage, a former South Africa Under-19 player now representing the USA, came in to bat alongside Conway and demonstrated his batting prowess. The 13th over commenced with a boundary struck by Savage off Bracewell, who had claimed two of the five wickets that had fallen up to that moment, and shortly thereafter, Conway hit the fourth six of his innings. Although the pace was not frantic, by the end of the 16th over, the Super Kings had accumulated 140 runs on the scoreboard.
It seemed that sixes were more readily available than fours as Conway and Savage capitalized on several opportunities, with their partnership reaching 79 runs before Conway, who achieved his half-century off 35 balls, was run out after scoring 66 runs from 44 balls. Savage also reached his fifty before the innings concluded, finishing unbeaten with a score of 53 off 34 balls. Together, they hit a total of nine sixes, and the Super Kings amassed 110 runs through boundaries. MINY scored 114 runs. Both innings exhibited a dot-ball percentage of 33. There was almost nothing to distinguish the two teams, except for the ability to maintain composure and seize critical moments.
MI New York loses by a very thin margin
The chase commenced unfavorably for MINY, with the scoreboard indicating 32 for 3 following the powerplay. Although it was not an insurmountable chase, losing Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, and Agni Chopra at such an early stage was undesirable. Unfortunately, that was the reality, attributed to the efforts of Adam Milne and Noor Ahmad. The innings required reconstruction, which Monank Patel, batting at No. 3, and Michael Bracewell, arguably MINY’s most effective bowler earlier in the match, took upon themselves to achieve.
Initially, they needed to stabilize the innings, which they accomplished, with only a single four—struck by Bracewell—occurring between Pooran’s dismissal and the conclusion of the seventh over. However, a boost was necessary, which they received as they scored 11, 16, 15, 14, and 17 in the subsequent five overs. Suddenly, the situation was balanced, requiring 76 runs from 48 balls.
By that point, Monank had reached his half-century off 33 balls, and Bracewell appeared poised to join him at the milestone. However, Milne’s return to the attack introduced the next twist in the narrative, primarily due to Faf du Plessis’ wicket. Milne bowled a short delivery outside off, Bracewell attempted a powerful shot, but du Plessis leapt and caught the ball one-handed at wide mid-off.
If that moment hinted at a turning point, the true pivotal moment arrived a few overs later. Kieron Pollard, aged 38 and replaced as team captain by Pooran, struck 4, 6, 4, and 4 against Mitchell’s gentle medium pace, reducing the requirement to 27 runs from 20 balls. However, Mitchell’s sprint to midwicket, followed by a pick-up, turn, and throw that hit the stumps, resulted in both Pollard and Monank being dismissed off consecutive deliveries.
That was indeed the significant turning point. In the final three overs, only three fours were scored, two additional wickets fell, and in Mitchell’s last over, where a single powerful hit could have concluded the match, only three runs were scored off the bat, along with a bye and a leg-bye.
SCORECARD: Â Texas Super Kings 185/6 in 20 overs (Devon Conway 65, Calvin Savage 53*; Michael Bracewell 2-34) beat MI New York 182/8 in 20 overs (Monank Patel 62; Adam Milne 3-22) by 3 runs
