By Tim Douglas 
Texas Super Kings Dominate with Du Plessis and Milne as Orcas Slip Toward Playoff Exit
The Texas Super Kings delivered a clinical all-round performance, spearheaded by a commanding knock from Faf du Plessis and a blistering five-wicket haul from Adam Milne, to crush the Seattle Orcas by 51 runs and effectively knock them out of the MLC 2025 playoff race.
Put in to bat, TSK wasted no time asserting control. Smit Patel fired early boundaries, but the innings truly took off with du Plessis showcasing his seasoned brilliance. The South African stalwart rotated strike effortlessly and punctuated his innings with boundary bursts — particularly punishing Kyle Mayers with back-to-back sixes.
While wickets at the other end threatened to derail momentum, Shubham Ranjane provided critical support. His poised 65* off 41 allowed du Plessis the freedom to accelerate. Together, they added vital runs against a struggling Orcas attack. The Super Kings closed at 188/4, a challenging total on a sluggish surface.
In reply, the Orcas started briskly. Kyle Mayers and David Warner showed intent, scoring 25 in the first three overs. But du Plessis’ tactical gamble — giving the ball to Donovan Ferreira — paid immediate dividends. Ferreira stifled scoring, setting up Milne to unleash a fiery double-strike, dismissing Warner and the dangerous Shayan Jahangir.
That one-two punch shattered the Orcas’ rhythm. Sensing vulnerability, du Plessis turned to his spinners. Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad responded with clinical spells, removing key batters including Shimron Hetmyer, whose early exit all but sealed the Orcas’ fate.
With the middle order crumbling, Milne returned to clean up the tail, sealing the innings with outstanding figures of 5/23. The Orcas collapsed to 137 all out, falling short by a wide margin and leaving their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
This resounding win cements the Super Kings’ position in the playoffs and reflects their momentum as they return to Dallas for the knockout stages. For Seattle Orcas, the road is all but closed — only a mathematical miracle and a heavy loss for MI New York can save their campaign.
Match Summary:
Texas Super Kings: 188/4 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 91, Shubham Ranjane 65*; Jasdeep Singh 1/36)
Seattle Orcas: 137 all out in 20 overs (Kyle Mayers 35, Hetmyer 26, Raza 23; Adam Milne 5/23, Hosein 2/24, Noor Ahmad 2/26)
With a well-balanced performance and sharp tactics, the Super Kings have sent a strong message to the rest of the league — they’re peaking at just the right time.
Zainab Shafiq