FAF AND STOINIS OUTMUSCLE RASHID KHAN AND CO IN MLC 'EL CLASICO'

The Texas Super Kings survived a late onslaught from Rashid Khan to take the honours by 15 runs in Major League Cricket’s 'El Clasico' on Sunday evening. 

After the first instalment was washed out on Friday, the Super Kings and MI New York squared up again in Dallas on Sunday. 

The home team were provided with the perfect start by their in-form openers Faf du Plessis (61, 38 balls, 4x4, 4x6) and Devon Conway (40, 28 balls, 3x4, 1x6). 

Both openers sit atop the overall MLC run-scorers charts with 209 and 164 runs respectively. 

Du Plessis, fresh from a century a couple of matches ago, is certainly in swashbuckling form as he raced to his half-century off just 32 balls (3x4, 4x6). It allowed the Super Kings to take control of the powerplay as they stormed to 61/0. 

The Super Kings skipper completely dominated the first-wicket stand, stroking 61 out of the 81-run partnership, before falling to a Tim David catch on the boundary.

Although the Super Kings lost their way a bit after Du Plessis and Conway’s dismissals, Marcus Stoinis maintained the momentum for the Texas side with an 18-ball undefeated 24 (1x4, 1x6) to push them up to 176/6.

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“Last year we had quite a few guys who were batsmen but didn't bowl. But he potentially gives four overs which is absolute gold in T20 cricket,”  Du Plessis said.

It was the beginning of a good day for the Durban’s Super Giants’ Australian all-rounder Stoinis (4/50) as he ran through the MI New York top-order before closing the game out at the death with the two big wickets of Rashid Khan (50 off 23 balls) and Monank Patel (61 off 45 balls) in the final over.

The pair had resurrected MI New York’s innings from a perilous 52/5, but ultimately their 97-run stand from 48 balls was not enough for the defending champions. 

‘It's more about the belief you have. The team management has also given me the opportunity to bat at No. 7 so they expect some runs from me,” said Rashid Khan.

“Just need to back myself and have a strong base, that makes it easier, and lots of practice. It definitely helps against familiar faces.”