TSK VS MINY CHALLENGER

So that ends a fiesty Challenger. Whenenever yellow plays blue, come international cricket or League cricket, sparks are set to fly and they did, come the 'semifinal'. Tough pill for Texas to swallow but they can learn from this for the next season. As far as MI are concerned, they have reached the final to take on the best team of the tournament, Washington Freedom. Form points to the Freedom, having had an unbeaten run at this venue this season. But they have not played cricket for almost a week. MI New York, on the other hand, have stolen some momentum to win back-to-back games and will look to make it a hattrick of wins, come Monday, 14th July, 2025. The first ball is set to be bowled at 12 am GMT but our buildup will begin well in advance. Do join us early then. In the meanwhile, you can enjoy your dose of regular cricketing action from the international arena through WI-Aus, SL-Ban and Eng-Ind, while the Global Super League will take care of your domestic T20 diet. Enjoy the fun. ADIOS! TAKE CARE!

The victorious captain of MI New York, NICHOLAS POORAN, says that he is very happy to be in the final. On the conversation with the team through the season, Pooran says that the talks were all about having belief. Not just he alone, but the coaching staff and the senior players as well, not only on the field but off the field as well. Adds that when the big moment came, the senior guys strutted their stuff. On TSK's score of 166, Nicholas says that he was really happy. Explains that his bowlers have been going around the park in this competition but kept getting better and better as the tournament went on. Agrees that Akeal Hosein played well towards the end but believes that to stop Texas at 166 was a good effort. Goes onto say that MI knew that to get to the target of 167, they needed a big effort and has no words to say regarding the big man (Kieron Pollard). For Pooran, Pollard is the definition of T20 cricket, sharing his experience and guiding others. On the inexperienced players, NP shares that a couple of weeks ago, he was asked whether these guys would have the chance to play and he had said yes. Shows that here they are, doing well in a knockout. Details that Trent Boult has been there in the Powerplay but the others have been there and there about. Adds that with the bat, Monank Patel has been doing well. On the thought process for the final, Nicky P says that his team was about to be knocked out in the last week in Miami but here they are, to spend their last week in Dallas. Ends by saying that anything can happen.

MI New York's KIERON POLLARD HAS BEEN ADJUDGED THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH, for his unbeaten 47 (22) with the bat. On the communciation in the partnership between himself and Pooran, Pollard says that intent was the key. Details that he signalled his intent on the first ball, by targetting Noor Ahmad. Explains that Noor was there as a matchup for him and he (Pollard) was there to prove a point that he is not here just to play. Adds that to go after Noor was a part of the plan. On the risk of going after a bowler first ball, Pollard admits that it is very difficult to explain if it does not come off. Further says that it is all about backing oneself and adds that having taken him on in the previous game, helped him (Pollard). On the surface, Kieron thinks that it looked like a very good wicket. Feels that to restrict TSK to 166 was a good performance and his side would take it any day but admits that the team found itself in a bit of trouble. Details that MI New York were 90-odd for 3 and knew that they could not afford to get out in that over (the 13th, where Noor dismissed Monank), but if they got through that one, they could score at the back end. On the mental attitude towards a knockout, KP honestly says that as a team, they shouldn't be here the way they have played this season but are here and anything can happen in a knockout. On his thought process, Pollard says that he looks at the knockout this way - you wither win or lose but he looks to stand and put his hand up.

The skipper of Texas Super Kings, FAF DU PLESSIS, is visibly very disappointed with the result. Thinks that Texas have been excellent right though the tournament, finishing second in the league stage and even in this game, scrapping hard after losing the toss and adds that even though Pooran and Pollard played really well, the Super Kings' bowling and fielding let them down. On the pitch, du Plessis calls it two paced, with a lot of grip and difficult to play. But he adds that Texas dropped two difficult chances of Pollard and had they got through him, the match could have had a different result. On not bowling out Akeal Hosein, Faf says that the thought was to definitely use him with the new ball and then hold him back against Pooran, but against Pollard who is great against left-arm spin, it was a 50-50 call. Details that he asked Akeal as well, whether he would like to bowl to Pollard and even he did not sound that confident. So, he did not bring him back on. On the washout in Qualifier 1, FdP says that definitely it cost his side a chance in the final. But is quick to add that that even though they played against a team here which has been average throughout the season, come the big night, their (MI's) players stepped up. On the League overall, Faf du Plessis calls it a great competition. Explains that you expect the overseas players to perform but it is when the local lads start to perform that you feel that the tournament is shaping up well. Ends by saying that from season 2 to season 3, he felt Texas' squad was getting more balanced and is looking forward to the next seson.

Earlier in the game, Texas Super Kings stuttered on a difficult pitch to bat on, losing 3 wickets inside the Powerplay. They were stripped down to 85/5 in the 13th over, with only skipper Faf du Plessis managing to reach double figures at that stage, making a fine 59. But just when it seemed like MI New York were applying the choke, Akeal Hosein and Donovan Ferreira staged a brilliant counter-attacking unbeaten stand of 81 in just 44 balls, to take Texas to 166/5. MI would be disappointed with the death overs after Tristan Luus did superbly with the ball, picking up 3 wickets.

The Super Kings had the game in control till the 15th over. But fielding lapses cost them big time towards the end. MI needed 61 in the last 5 overs. They hammered 66 in 4 overs itself. Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad were fantastic, with combined figures of 7-0-40-2 but the seamers were disappointing. Perhaps, in hindsight, Faf du Plessis could have taken the gamble of bringing back Akeal when the hitting was on, but it is always easy to read the game in hindsight.

Nothing to take away from MI New York though. They played this to perfection, keeping wickets in hand till the 15th over and then going berserk at the end. They were only 76/2 at the 12th over mark. But hammered 96 in the last 7 overs! It was Monank Patel at the top, who was stunning again, in a brisk 49 while skipper Nicholas Pooran was calm as a cucumber early on, before exploding towards the end, finishing on an unbeaten 52. The skipper dropping himself to number 4 did raise a few eyebrows but it did not matter in the end. Monank's dismissal got in Pollard who did struggle at the start, but got two chances on 9 and later, 27. Eventually, he made Texas pay as Pooran and Pollard added an unbeaten stand of 89 in just 40 balls.

Texas Super Kings' coach Stephen Fleming looks downcast. Wins and losses are a part and parcel of the game but he will admit that Texas have lost it through their own follies. A great game was in the making around the 15th over but poor fielding combined by poor bowling have seen them let the match slip out of their hands.

SIX! A fitting way to end the game! A short ball, around off, angling away, Nicholas Pooran swivels and pulls it massively over mid-wicket! MI NEW YORK WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND REACH THEIR SECOND MLC FINAL!

SCORES ARE LEVEL! Very full, on middle, KP whips it through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! A short ball again, outside off, Kieron Pollard heaves it through mid-wicket for a boundary!

Teasing the wide line outside off now, Kieron cannot reach it as he looks to steer the full ball.

WIDE. Way down the leg side, left alone.

FOUR! BANG! Frustration builds for Stoinis, as he bowls a short ball down the leg side. Pollard climbs on top of it and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary! 7 more needed from 10 balls now.

A bit of a chat here. Clearly, Texas Super Kings are rattled and the frustration is getting the better out of them. Faf du Plessis and Marcus Stoinis have a heated argument with the umpire but no one can do anything about it. No reviews for wides or no balls in this clash.

WIDE. That is harsh on the bowler. Pollard is standing outside leg stump and Stoinis fires it outside leg. But Kieron moves across and the umpire signals a wide.

A short ball, outside off, Kieron Pollard swivels and pulls it through midwicket for a couple.

Last over of the match? Just 14 runs needed. Marcus Stoinis to bowl. 3-0-25-0 so far.