9:02pm Right. That will be that from us for this game. Hope you enjoyed our coverage as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. We will be back after a day's break to bring to you all the action from the playoffs, with MI New York clashing with Washington Freedom in the Eliminator first. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Binoy George and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Goodbye and take care!

Dasun Shanaka, Seattle Orcas captain: (On how happy he is) It is a very good win. Credit to Klaasen for the way he played - outstanding. (On the score and the bowling performance) Harmeet and Imad were the key in restricting them to that score. I was hoping to restrict them to a lesser score but the last over went for a few runs. That happens in cricket. (On bowling left-arm spinners to left-handed batters) Sometimes, a batter like Nicholas Pooran, he is trying to hit left-arm spinners. That is why I held on to Imad at the end. I wanted to use Harmeet up front but did not use him because of Pooran. (On the heat in Dallas) We are prepared for that now. Our skipper will be back, so we will be stronger and I hope we can get over the line there as well.

Nicholas Pooran, standing in as MI New York skipper for Kieron Pollard: (On Pollard's injury) The medical team is taking care of him so hopefully we will have some information soon. (On taking over the reins in the middle of the game) It was a challenge. But Polly and I keep talking. He always communicates with me. It was hence a little easier for me. Heinrich played an exceptional innings. We cannot give him chances. (On his innings) It was not good enough, unfortunately. Happy that I could contribute. Being consistent is something I strive for. (On playing the Eliminator) We have not started off the tournament at our best. But now we are in the playoffs. We know what we have to work on. Another day, another opportunity and hopefully we can come out on the right side (of the result).

Heinrich Klaasen, Player of the Match: (On what was going through his mind) I knew it was going to be difficult. Struggled to hit it at the start. Could not find my swing at the start. My idea has to be to get the momentum rolling and that started happening. That spell Trent bowled at the end got me a little bit nervous but luckily we got over the line. (On playing just three dots) Did not notice it was that less. Pride myself to not get bogged down. Always keen to keep rotating the strike. As long as the scoreboard keeps ticking, you are not falling too far behind the run-rate. (On planning to finish in the top two) It is quite hot there, so you do not want to play the day game (smiles). Playing the first qualifier gives you a couple of opportunities to get to the final.

8:42pm Phew, what a run-chase that was, and all of it was only possible because Klaasen produced one of the great T20 knocks. When he walked in, the Orcas had been reduced to 37-2 inside the powerplay. He took his time initially, with just 13 runs coming off his first 12 balls. Thereafter, though, he took matters into his own hands, dispatching the bowlers to all parts. He also ransacked 26 runs in the 17th over off Rashid - an over that turned the tide completely and put the Orcas in pole position.

They dug their own grave a little towards the end, due to the string of wickets they lost but Tye and Klaasen held their nerve to ensure that they finish the group stages at the top of the table. Take nothing away from Nauman's half-century at the top of the order too, considering it allowed Klaasen to grow into his innings before teeing off. .

MINY, meanwhile, will feel they let this game slip. At the half-way stage, they would have felt they had enough on the board. They also dropped Klaasen in the 15th over when he was on 63 and that proved to be very costly. Boult tried his best, ripping out three Orcas batters in the 18th over but in the end, that was not enough to haul MINY to victory and to a top-two berth.

19.2
6
Kenjige to Klaasen, SIX, Klaasen finishes it off on style! Slowed up on a length outside off but this just sits up to be hit. Klaasen winds up and mauls it a mile over long on to seal the deal for the Orcas and set up a date with the Texas Super Kings in Qualifier 1 on Thursday!
19.1
1
Kenjige to Tye, 1 run, back of a length on off stump. Tye stabs it down the ground and ambles across to the other end

Kenjige to bowl the final over. Just seven runs needed for victory, off six balls...

END OF OVER:
19 | 10 Runs | SEO: 188/8 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.89, RRR: 7.00)

  • Heinrich Klaasen104 (43b)
  • Andrew Tye3 (3b)
  • Ehsan Adil3-0-30-0
  • Trent Boult4-0-31-4
18.6
4
Ehsan Adil to Klaasen, FOUR, four more! Length delivery just outside off stump. Klaasen backs away, throws his hands at it and slices it over backward point. The Orcas are now officially assured a top-two finish and a place in Qualifier 1!

11 runs needed for victory. Two runs more, and the Orcas will be assured of a top-two finish...

18.5
0
Ehsan Adil to Klaasen, no run, very full delivery on off stump. Klaasen clinks it off the toe-end towards the bowler
18.4
4
Ehsan Adil to Klaasen, FOUR, goes through David at long on! Hundred for Klaasen! A Klaas above the rest tonight! Back of a length delivery on middle and leg. Klaasen stands tall and smacks it towards long on. David runs to his left but makes a hash of it, conceding a boundary in the process!
18.3
0
Ehsan Adil to Klaasen, no run, oh, how has that missed leg stump! Very full delivery on leg stump that seems to curve into Klaasen. He has not picked the slower one either and swings too early. That was not very far away from leg stump either!
18.2
1
Ehsan Adil to Tye, 1 run, low full toss on leg stump. Tye gets inside the line and tucks it off his toes towards deep square leg
18.1
1
Ehsan Adil to Klaasen, 1 run, full delivery just outside off. Klaasen leans into his drive and knocks it down to long off for a single

Ehsan Adil to bowl the penultimate over. Klaasen on strike

17 required off 12 for the win for the Orcas. Eight more runs and they will guarantee themselves a top-two berth...

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 3 Wkts | SEO: 178/8 (17 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.88, RRR: 8.50)

  • Andrew Tye2 (2b)
  • Heinrich Klaasen95 (38b)
  • Trent Boult4-0-31-4
  • David Wiese4-0-46-1
17.6
0
Boult to Tye, no run, full delivery on off stump. Tye blocks it back to the bowler with a straight bat
17.5
2
Boult to Tye, 2 runs, back of a length delivery on middle and leg. Tye glances it down to fine leg for a couple of runs

Boult has ripped this game open. Tye out to face the music (and the deception). Boult goes around the wicket

17.4
W
Boult to Harmeet Singh, OUT, cleans him up with an absolute corker! Another beautifully disguised and executed knuckle-ball. It pitches on a length just outside of and seems to nip bac in. Harmeet, like Imad, is all at sea and sees the ball breeze past the bat before flattening off stump!

Harmeet Singh b Boult 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

17.3
0
Boult to Harmeet Singh, no run, searing yorker just outside off stump. Harmeet gets his bat down in time and jams it into his pads
17.3
1w
Boult to Harmeet Singh, 1 wide, full delivery that slides down the leg side. Called a wide by the umpire. A bit anti-climactic, really!

Harmeet out to face the hat-trick ball

17.2
W
Boult to Imad Wasim, OUT, gone first ball, oh my! Slower yorker on off stump that dips devilishly and very late. Imad has no clue about this and is way too early into the stroke. The ball squirms past the bat and smashes him on the back pad, right in front of middle stump. The umpire raises his finger and Imad does not even bother with the review. Boult is now on a hat-trick!

Imad Wasim lbw b Boult 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Imad in at 8. Boult goes over the wicket

17.1
W
Boult to Pretorius, OUT, and he nicks off Pretorius! Innocuous back of a length delivery outside off and all Pretorius had to do was pat it for a single and turn the strike over to Klaasen. Instead, he tries to smash the cover off the ball and ends up feathering it through to Pooran. The Orcas lose another, and this will put further pressure on Klaasen!

D Pretorius c †Pooran b Boult 2 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

Boult to bowl the 18th

Afeef: "Klaasen has got to be one of the best hitters of spin bowling" -- Without a shadow of a doubt. His ability to pick lengths against spin is second to none...

END OF OVER:
17 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | SEO: 175/5 (20 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.29, RRR: 6.66)

  • Dwaine Pretorius2 (2b)
  • Heinrich Klaasen95 (38b)
  • David Wiese4-0-46-1
  • Rashid Khan4-1-41-2
16.6
1
Wiese to Pretorius, 1 run, back of a length outside off. Pretorius taps it into the off side and saunters across to the other end
16.5
1
Wiese to Klaasen, 1 run, slower delivery banged into the track outside off. Klaasen jumps up onto his toes and flat-bats it towards long on
16.4
4
Wiese to Klaasen, FOUR, moves to 94! Low full toss outside off stump. Klaasen does not get it out of the middle but gets under it enough to clear mid off and beat the fielder running to his left from long on!

Major League Cricket News

Seattle 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st25Q de KockNauman Anwar
2nd12GSNFG JayasuriyaNauman Anwar
3rd62H KlaasenNauman Anwar
4th24H KlaasenSS Ranjane
5th45H KlaasenMD Shanaka
6th7D PretoriusH Klaasen
7th0Imad WasimH Klaasen
8th1Harmeet SinghH Klaasen
9th19H KlaasenAJ Tye