In a thrilling encounter at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis’s blistering start was abruptly halted by a stunning one-handed catch from San Francisco Unicorns counterpart Corey Anderson.
After Finn Allen’s century (101 off 53) propelled the Unicorns to a formidable 200 for 6, du Plessis unleashed a fiery response, smashing 45 off 22 balls. However, just as he threatened to seize control of the chase, Anderson’s brilliance at mid-off extinguished his hopes.
In the fifth over, Carmi le Roux’s delivery found the toe-end of du Plessis’s bat, sending the ball soaring towards Anderson. With lightning reflexes, the former New Zealand allrounder extended his left hand and plucked the ball out of the air, landing gracefully before kicking it in celebration.
The catch proved pivotal as the Unicorns held on to win by a narrow margin of 10 runs. Despite unbeaten half-centuries from Devon Conway (62* off 38) and Joshua Trump (56* off 36), the Super Kings fell short of their target.
Anderson’s catch not only ended du Plessis’s innings but also became one of the defining moments of the 2024 Major League Cricket season. His athleticism and skill showcased the high level of competition in the league, which is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States.
The Unicorns will now face Washington Freedom in the title match on July 29, while the Super Kings will look to regroup and improve their performance in the upcoming season.
