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Right then, Match number 12 of Major League Cricket, 2024 is done and it is Texas Super Kings who get their noses in front and firm their grip on the second spot on the points table. Next up is a clash between Seattle Orcas and San Francisco Unicorns at Church Street Park, Morrisville and that game will be played on July 16 at 1 am IST (6.30 pm GMT, the previous day). However, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Faf du Plessis, the skipper of Texas Super Kings says that it was a good pitch, and having played here in the last few games, it was one of the better ones and it did slow down and they did have a competitive score on the board. On Stoinis, he says that the ability to bat and give potentially four overs every game is an invaluable asset. Goes on to applaud the likes of Zia-ul-Haq and adds that to have local players bowl at world-class players and get them out is amazing. Ends by saying that the crowd in Dallas has been unreal and appreciates their support a lot.

Kieron Pollard, the captain of MI New York is up for a chat. He credits his bowlers for restricting them in the first innings. Mentions that he wanted to play out the Powerplay and build momentum gradually but was dismissed eventually. He then appreciates Rashid Khan and Monank Patel for trying their best. Adds that they will keep trying and plan for the coming games.

Rashid Khan is the Most Valuable Player of the Match for his amazing all-round display and rarely does it happen that a person from the losing team picks up this award which shows how special his performance was in this game. Rashid says that it would have been great to be on the winning side but it was all about going out there and expressing himself with the bat and showcasing his skills. Adds that it is more about the belief and the confidence that the team management have in him to bat up the order and deliver with the bat as well and he just tries to do the basics right. Mentions that it does help to face familiar faces which did help him.

The Presentation ceremony...

Marcus Stoinis is down for a quick chat. He says that they got the win and he is happy with that. Mentions that they have a few boxes to tick in all fields. Mentions that he plans his deliveries according to the batter and the conditions. Adds that he was happy to bowl with the new ball and enjoys bowling at death as well. Ends by saying that it felt nice to win the game and will enjoy the short break and use it to recuperate.

Earlier in the game, Kieron Pollard won the toss and put Texas Super Kings into bat as it was a fresh wicket and hoped that chasing would be slightly easier. However, this decision backfired right away as Faf du Plessis came out all guns blazing and smashed the ball to all parts of the ground before getting out. The opening pair put on a quickfire 85-run stand before MI New York made a comeback with the ball. The Super Kings managed to scamper through to 176 runs. In reply, MI New York never got going and had to rely on a couple of stellar knocks in the latter half of the chase to get them close but it was never going to be enough.

MI New York must have thought at the halfway stage that they had kept the opposition down to a slightly under-par total but it all went wrong for them inside the Powerplay with the bat. They lost three quick wickets after which Kieron Pollard came in and wasted too many deliveries and eventually got out without making any impact. Monank Patel was the one who tried a few shots and after a while, it did start to bear fruits but it really was Rashid Khan who almost singlehandedly brought MI New York back in the contest as he made a stellar 50 off just 23 balls before getting out at the fag end of the chase and Patel too notched up a half-century but it simply wasn't enough. MI only hit 3 boundaries in the first 12 overs which is almost unheard of.

A riveting encounter in the latter stages but overall, Texas Super Kings were the better side and have now picked up their second win of the competition. Defending a solid total of 176 runs, the Super Kings managed to pick up three quick wickets inside the first 4 overs. This got them well ahead in the game and they were able to boss proceedings out in the middle. They had the opposition reeling at 52/5 but couldn't close out the innings and were given a slight scare towards the backend of the chase. Zia-ul-Haq was excellent up top and picked up a couple of wickets whilst remaining economical and Marcus Stoinis got four wickets in total which were crucial even though he went for plenty of runs. Also, when things got rough, Dwayne Bravo bowled a brilliant penultimate over which basically sealed the deal for Texas Super Kings.

FOUR! STREAKY! Texas Super Kings have sealed the win and earned those two points. Marcus Stoinis serves it on a length and on leg. Trent Boult swings his blade hard and gets the connection on the inner edge. The ball rolls away to the fine leg fence for four runs to end the match.

Trent Boult walks out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, Mohammad Mohsin takes a catch in this game. Marcus Stoinis bowls a slow bouncer over off. Monank Patel tried to use the pace to ramp it over the infield but there was none on it. Mohammad Mohsin runs behind from short third and grabs it safely.  Monank Patel's impactful knock comes to an end as well.

OUT! TAKEN! Finally, Mohammad Mohsin takes a catch in this game. Marcus Stoinis bowls a slow bouncer over off. Monank Patel tried to use the pace to ramp it over the infield but there was none on it. Mohammad Mohsin runs behind from short third and grabs it safely.  Monank Patel's impactful knock comes to an end as well.

SIX! PULLED AWAY! Marcus Stoinis drops it short and over off. Monank Patel pulls it towards the cow corner. The ball is hit in the gap and it hits the advertising boards beyond the fence for a biggie.

Wide! Oh dear! Full in length but down the leg side. Monank Patel leaves it alone. The umpire signals a wide.

On a length and outside off. Kagiso Rabada slaps it to long on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada is the new man in.

OUT! TAKEN! FIFTY AND GONE! Marcus Stoinis goes full and on the pads. Rashid Khan flicks it towards deep mid-wicket but he doesn't connect well. The substitute fielder Cameron Stevenson runs in and takes a safe catch to end Rashid Khan's impressive innings. Marcus Stoinis appreciated him for his knock and seals the win for the Super Kings.