Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas, 1st Match, Major League Cricket 2026 - CommentaryTSK vs SOR, 1st Match, Major League Cricket 2026 - Commentary

A thumping victory for the home team and they're off to a flier here in Dallas. 441 runs on the opening night of #MLC4 and it can only get better. Tomorrow is a double-header at this venue and we'll be back with ball-by-ball coverage. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Faf (2/2) - (On this being his fastest ever T20 century) Oh my goodness. No, it's good. Even though these days milestones don't mean much, it's not something you bat for. It's about that intensity and strike rate. But as long as you can keep that up, for me, it's putting a score on the board that actually wins you a match. 30s and 40s doesn't often win you games. So you want to get to that 70-plus, 75-plus where you feel you make a big contribution to getting the team over the line. And obviously, the strike rate is always important. (On the MLC) I really enjoy it. That's why I want to keep coming back. It is one of my tournaments in the season that I really look forward to. As I said, I really enjoy batting here as well. (On the Super Kings franchise) And always great to be associated with any of the Super Kings franchises. It's a good franchise to be a part of. Very loyal, great fan base as well. So you always feel like you want to repay all the years that you've been with them. So I still have that same desire. That hasn't changed.

Faf du Plessis | TSK Captain | Most Valuable Player (1/2) - It's a great wicket. I always love batting here. I wish the whole tournament was here (in Dallas). But look, it was one of those games where you feel under pressure with the ball. Look, they (Seattle Orcas) batted well as well. And then we came really back to, I think, 210 I felt like was a par score on that wicket. And I know they had two sixes at the back end, but the way we went about the powerplay, that's where we really got back into the game. (On the toss decision) Look, they batted really well. But also know it's a really good batting wicket and you could see the ball was coming on nicely. There were a few areas if you bowled well, you could restrict the guys. But generally thought when we walked off the field, I was very proud of the last 10 overs, the way that the guys came back. (On Nandre Burger) Bowling  from the bottom end, it's a tough end for the bowlers because of that straight, short boundary and the wind coming to the leg-side. So I think bowlers are always trying to run from the top side because they've got the big boundary. But you need someone to put their hand up and his skill set tonight was a match-changing bowling performance for us. 

Harmeet Singh: It was stopping a little bit, holding, low bounce and spinners had a little bit on the wicket, but as the dew came in, it started sliding a little bit better. And again, kudos to their batters and Faf especially, the way they batted. (On Seattle Oracas' batting) It was a really good statement with the bat and lots of positives and high scoring games like this, it can go anywhere. But I think lots of positives and really good start. Our executions were a little bit off and it's a little bit of a new group. Everybody's starting to know each other and I think it'll get clinical as the tournament goes on.

23:15 Local Time, 04:15 GMT, 09:45 IST: Fireworks in the background in Dallas as the home team starts its season on a winning note. 221 was going to be a challenging ask, but Faf du Plessis was just too good for the Orcas bowlers. After losing Saiteja Mukkamalla in the first over, he went on the attack and played a big role as TSK plundered 89 for 1 inside the batting powerplay. That gave them a head-start and they were always ahead of the asking rate. Rilee Rossouw chipped in with a 21-ball 49 and Wiann Mulder applied the finishing touches with a 15-ball 31*. But this chase was all about Faf du Plessis and his 4th hundred in the MLC. He might be closing in on 42, but the TSK skipper showed he hasn't lost his appetite for making big runs. Stay tuned for the presentations..