END OF OVER:
20 | 7 Runs | TSK: 190/4 (11 runs required, RR: 9.50)

  • Joshua Tromp56 (36b)
  • Devon Conway62 (38b)
  • Pat Cummins4-0-50-0
  • Haris Rauf4-0-43-0

11:28pm That brings us to the end of our coverage for tonight. Only two teams left in the MLC and it is fitting that they were the sides placed first and second in the league phase. We will be back for what promises to be a classic clash and hope to have your company too. Until then, this is goodbye from Binoy and me. Take care, folks!

Finn Allen, Player of the Match: It was a close game, we knew we were going to be up against it, happy to get over the line. (On Conway) It was a quality knock from him. He is backing it up tournament after tournament. Just happy it was our day. (On his slight change in approach and what caused it) The nature of the surface. I felt like I would get more reward for good shots than swinging across the line. (On his plan against the spin of Noor Ahmad) Just looking straight. The way the wicket was playing, Noor was hard to get away off the back foot, so was sweating on anything full. (On the final against Washington) I think it is going to be a great game. 1-1 heading into the final. We have to freshen up tomorrow and then be ready for Sunday.

Corey Anderson, San Francisco Unicorns captain: We look at the competition as a whole, different guys have chipped in at different times. (On Finn Allen) Every time someone scores a T20 hundred, it is special. Hassan Khan has been unbelievable for us. Guys have done their roles and have won the moments in games. We have one more to go but been a great team performance so far. (On what conversations he had with Cummins and Rauf) Those conversations were easy, they knew what they were doing. They are world-class bowlers and they know what ball to bowl. Lucky to have them. (On Drysdale) Pretty underdone, in terms of cricket workload but the way he bowled tonight was exceptional. He won that moment through the middle for us, and I thought he was incredible. (On the catch that dismissed du Plessis) it got caught up in the lights a little bit. Would have been nice if we had caught the ones before. Faf has been dangerous this whole competition. To get him and to stall their momentum, it was a great job.

Faf du Plessis, Texas Super Kings captain: Starting off today, we were not at our best. First 45 minutes of the game…Allen played well but we were a little soft. Both teams' fielding was average. Those little things are the difference (in such matches). If players like Allen make that impact, it changes the game. You have to be on top of those small margins and that is what wins games. (On the dropped catches) Not good enough skill. (On Tromp) He did not have a great season, but still backing the domestic talent we have. Hopefully an innings like this will give him confidence and the step up to the next level is 90% in the mind. Hopefully he goes back, works hard and comes back again next season. (On the score) 10-15 above average. That one innings felt like he kept on going. If you look throughout the game, it was not the case for all the other batters. 185 would have been a par score. We started off nicely and were well in it. But the period in the middle, we lost a few quick wickets. Batted really well to get back but I think the best team won. (On the MLC this season) Really enjoyed it. Season two, from the perspective of the conditions, had better surfaces and produced better cricket. The fans are coming out, so it is amazing, especially for us when we see those yellow shirts. You don't want to play cricket to empty stands and happy that that did not happen (this year).

Drysdale: It feels great. Got an opportunity, made use of it, so feels great. All of them (my friends and family) are watching, I got a text from all of them, so it is a proud moment. (On his bowling plan) Stick to the basics, hit a back of a length and use variations. (On which wicket was better) I liked Stoinis, yeah, it was a bit better. (On the catches going down) It is hard to see in the dark and the ball was wobbling a little. We are going to pop champagne, maybe, maybe (smiles).

11:05pm An amazing game of cricket. 40 overs of non-stop action and for the most part, it felt as if it was an event-a-ball. Like the first innings, there were dropped catches, misfields and missed run-out chances, adding to the drama but when it mattered most, the Unicorns' high-profile players, Cummins and Rauf stood up. A sizzling display of death-bowling tied Conway and Tromp down enough and made sure that their respective knocks will now be remembered as a consolation, rather than as a catalyst for a remarkable turnaround.

Prior to this, du Plessis was on fire. He was smacking the ball to all parts and when he was at the crease, it felt the Super Kings would hunt this total down with overs to spare. He, though, fell to one of the best catches you'll ever see and that triggered a slow-down. TSK, in fact, could not garner any significant momentum, up until Conway and Tromp got together.

For the Unicorns, Drysdale and Hassan were exceptional through the middle. The latter badgered a hard length and made it difficult for the batters, while the latter kept varying his pace to keep the batters guessing. It was a performance that would have given the pair lots of confidence and holds the Unicorns in good stead, especially heading into a final against another powerful batting line-up.

19.6
1
Cummins to Tromp, 1 run, Pat "Clutch" Cummins! The moment called for a big performance. For a clutch display, and who else but Cummins to do it! Zipped in full at the stumps. Tromp gives himself room but cannot get under it. Drilled out to deep point and this game, glittered with fours and sixes, ends with an anti-climactic single. Conway and Tromp are disconsolate. Both of them played their hearts out, but it was just not enough to take TSK to promised land!
19.5
0
Cummins to Tromp, no run, full and wide outside off. Just what Cummins wanted to bowl; Sneaks under Tromp's bat as he looks to power it inside-out and this is why Cummins is paid the big bucks!

12 off 2. TSK need two sixes. If they cannot do that, they are out

19.4
1
Cummins to Conway, 1 run, slower bumper outside off. Gets up too high for Conway and he can only slap it straight to mid off
19.3
2
Cummins to Conway, 2 runs, full and wide outside off. Conway throws the kitchen sink at it and razes it towards deep point. Cannot find the fence, though, but is back on strike

15 off 4. TSK need a maximum, right about now

19.2
1
Cummins to Tromp, 1 run, into the track outside off. Tromp walks across his stumps but can only hook it away towards fine leg
19.1
1
Cummins to Conway, 1 run, banged into the track outside off. Conway cannot free his arms completely and scuffs it towards mid off. Just a single

Mark: "ATM, that drop by Rauf off his own bowling is looking very expensive." -- Well, that is not the only chance they have put down tonight...

19.1
1w
Cummins to Conway, 1 wide, off-pace, short and way outside off. Beyond the tramlines and called a wide

18 needed off the final over. Cummins versus Conway for now. TSK versus Unicorns. Who are you backing? Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
19 | 11 Runs | TSK: 183/4 (18 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.63, RRR: 18.00)

  • Joshua Tromp54 (33b)
  • Devon Conway58 (35b)
  • Haris Rauf4-0-43-0
  • Pat Cummins3-0-43-0
18.6
4
Haris Rauf to Tromp, FOUR, carved away for four! Tromp keeping TSK in the hunt! Misses the yorker by a smidgen outside off and Tromp cashes in. Gives himself ample room and scythes it away!
18.5
0
Haris Rauf to Tromp, no run, gets the yorker right this time. Tromp, rather ambitiously, unfurls the reverse-lap, and is beaten for pace. Rauf is bowling rockets here
18.4
4
Haris Rauf to Tromp, FOUR, what a shot under pressure! Full, fast and furious outside off. Tromp, though, is just too good. Shimmies across, brings out the lap and nails it. Short fine leg gets a hand to it but just too hot to handle
18.3
1
Haris Rauf to Conway, 1 run, very full on middle and off. Just the length Rauf wants to hit. Driven down to long off
18.2
1
Haris Rauf to Tromp, 1 run, into the blockhole outside off. Tromp cannot get under it and miscues it towards long on

Back to over the wicket for Tromp

18.1
1
Haris Rauf to Conway, 1 run, full toss on off and Conway will feel he missed out there. Cloths it down the ground to long off

Rauf to bowl the penultimate over. TSK need 29 off 12. Rauf stays around the wicket

END OF OVER:
18 | 11 Runs | TSK: 172/4 (29 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.55, RRR: 14.50)

  • Joshua Tromp45 (29b)
  • Devon Conway56 (33b)
  • Pat Cummins3-0-43-0
  • Haris Rauf3-0-32-0
17.6
2
Cummins to Tromp, 2 runs, oh dear, the ball is like a bar of soap again! Slower bumper outside off. Tromp reaches out for it but has no pace to work with. Skews it towards deep cover point. Rutherford, running in from the fence and Anderson, running back from cover, get into each other's way and that messes up Rutherford's attempt. Barely gets his hands to it in the end
17.5
2
Cummins to Tromp, 2 runs, follows the batter outside leg with a full ball. Tromp stabs it towards deep mid wicket and has enough time to dart back for two
17.4
1
Cummins to Conway, 1 run, top fielding effort! Dug into the track outside off. Conway flat-bats it towards mid off, who sprawls to his left and saves a certain boundary. Gore, the substitute fielder, with the effort. How crucial could those runs be?
17.3
1
Cummins to Tromp, 1 run, slower ball on a length just outside off. Tromp winds up and shanks it towards long on
17.2
4
Cummins to Tromp, FOUR, finally gets it away! Cutter into the track outside off. The umpteenth time Tromp is trying the scoop and he eventually gets what he wants. Decent enough contact to pop it over short fine leg!
17.1
1
Cummins to Conway, 1 run, full outside off and there to be hit. Conway goes too hard at it perhaps and scuffs it towards extra cover

Cummins to bowl. TSK need 40 off 18. Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | TSK: 161/4 (40 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.47, RRR: 13.33)

  • Joshua Tromp36 (25b)
  • Devon Conway54 (31b)
  • Haris Rauf3-0-32-0
  • Juanoy Drysdale4-0-33-2
16.6
0
Haris Rauf to Tromp, no run, fired in full and fast outside off. Tromp looks for the scoop but is a late in getting into position, which means the bat can then not come down in time

anay: "josh tromp turning out be a hidden talent!!" -- Credit to TSK, they stuck with him even when he was not scoring as freely

16.5
1
Haris Rauf to Conway, 1 run, zipped in full on middle and off. Conway squeezes it out to extra cover
16.4
4
Haris Rauf to Conway, FOUR, four more! Conway on the charge again! Half-tracker outside off. Sits up nicely for Conway and he pulverizes this slower ball between deep mid wicket and deep square leg!
16.3
4
Haris Rauf to Conway, FOUR, streaky but they all count! Back of a length on leg stump. Conway has a swipe across the line and while he does not middle it, he gets enough of a top edge to clear the keeper
16.2
1
Haris Rauf to Tromp, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Tromp clinks it off the toe-end towards long on
16.1
1
Haris Rauf to Conway, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Conway has a swish at it and scuffs it towards extra cover

Rauf to bowl the 16th. TSK need 51 off 24. Around the wicket

Major League Cricket News

Texas 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st55F du PlessisDP Conway
2nd29DP ConwayAM Hardie
3rd3DP ConwayMilind Kumar
4th3MP StoinisDP Conway
5th100DP ConwayJ Tromp