11:06pm That will be all from us for tonight, folks. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we loved bringing it to you. Until next time, from Vairavan and myself (Shashwat), this is goodbye!
Mitchell Owen, Player of the Match: It is good fun. struggled for the first 20-30 balls, nice to catch up (after that period). I said to Ricky at the time-out that this is embarrassing - that I cannot hit the ball out of the middle. With the short side and the wind, I thought I could take my chances to hit (sixes) and thankfully it came off. (On the approach to the chase) It is quite simple because the rate is high from the outset. Keep backing yourself and hope it comes off. To have Andries at the other end, to get 80 and be unbeaten and get the winning runs, is an unbelievable innings and hope it sets him up nicely for the back end. I was extremely lucky tonight - bowled half-volleys and got wickets, and got dropped a few times (smiles). (On what his processes are) Quite simple for me - just enjoying life, and on the field, just trying to hit the ball clean. Cannot give away my entire process, but just about keeping life simple.
Glenn Maxwell, Washington Freedom captain: Very happy. Any time you chase 220, you have to be really happy. A bit disappointed with the way we bowled, could not shut down one side. Faf put us under immediate pressure and they kept that pressure on throughout. For two guys (among the top four) to go out and do the job is pretty pleasing, and for Andries to do that, it is special (and hopefully it gives him confidence). (On the bowling) Comes down to a couple of things - execution and the plans, based on who the batter is. Felt like our plans were fine but the execution was not like we wanted. We have still not played the perfect game (yet) - something you strive towards the end of the tournament. (On playing against Stoinis) We have some good battles. It is nice and bad, always playing against your good mates. We have played together for a long time - it was nice fun. He was using my shot against me early in the innings and we were having a nice laugh. Nice to get him out but you also want your best mates to do well.
Faf du Plessis, Texas Super Kings captain: We did a lot of things right. It was a good score - the pitch was a touch on the slow side and gets better (later). Even with the ball, we hung in there nicely. When the one side opens up with the wind (reducing), it is a difficult ground to defend. When you bat first, you have to try and get a big score, or try to get wickets early (in the powerplay). (On if they could have tried other options to fill in as the fifth bowler) Savage is injured unfortunately, otherwise he is the perfect guy to sneak in a couple of overs. We knew we were going to be a bit light in that department (of the fifth bowler) with our combination; would have been tough for Ranjane as well to bowl. The one thing that I would say (we did wrong) was the dropped chances. If you can stop the in batter from scoring, it is not as easy for the new batter coming in. It is quite easy for us now to back them (local talent) because you can see the year-on-year progression from the local boys. You can see they belong here and the confidence in them is growing, so easy for us to back a guy (Smit Patel) at the top of the order who has not played in the competition.
10:49pm Wow. That was some game, and that was some run-chase. For a major chunk, it felt Washington were lagging behind. Owen was scratching around and Gous took time to hit top gear. But once the pair turned it on, the Super Kings simply had no answers. Owen finished with a 52-ball 89 to continue his breath-taking start to the season, with Gous remaining unbeaten on 80 off 45. Those two did the bulk of the heavy lifting, with Maxwell and Phillips adding the finishing touches courtesy a few big hits.
TSK will feel they have let an opportunity slip. They had to contend with a strong batting unit, but after eight overs of the chase, they had them tied down. The ninth over, though, went for 18 and then Noor was taken apart soon after, meaning TSK had to try and sneak in another Ferreira over, which also went for 24. They did not help themselves in the field, with Ferreira dropping Owen twice and in a game of such fine margins, that is probably what they will end up ruing.
Washington Freedom are not exactly tearing past the finish line. Still two needed, and TSK still with a chance to rattle the WF cage. du Plessis trying to make a few fielding changes, before realizing he cannot have just three on the off side
