The 2026 edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) kicked off with an absolute fireworks display at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on June 18, 2026. The tournament opener between the Texas Super Kings (TSK) and the Seattle Orcas delivered a high-octane thriller that will be remembered for two things: a mind-boggling moment of individual brilliance in the field and a masterclass chase that brought the home crowd to its feet. Seattle posted a massive 220/2, but the Texas Super Kings chased it down with 9 balls to spare, winning by 6 wickets in a game that set an incredibly high bar for the rest of the MLC 2026 season.
Adam Milne holds on to a sharp return catch to get rid of Tim Seifert in MLC 2026
The Seattle Orcas were flying high, thanks to a spectacular opening stand of 191 runs between Shayan Jahangir (78 off 47) and Tim Seifert. Seifert was in sublime touch, hammering a brilliant 104 off just 66 balls, decorated with 8 fours and 6 massive sixes. As the innings neared its end, Seifert looked unstoppable, but the second ball of the final over produced a moment of pure magic.
Kiwi speedster Adam Milne bowled a quick, full delivery, following Seifert as the batter backed away to create room. Seifert absolutely leathers the ball straight back down the ground with tremendous power. In what looked more like an act of pure self-preservation than an intentional fielding attempt, Milne instinctively thrust his hands up in front of his face. Miraculously, the ball stuck.
Showcasing lightning-fast reflexes that defied belief, Milne plucked an absolute screamer out of thin air to dismiss his fellow countryman. It was a stunning follow-through catch that left commentators and fans speechless, ending Seifert’s magnificent knock at 104 and restricting Seattle to 220/2 when they threatened to cross the 230-mark. Milne finished his spell as the pick of the conventional bowlers for Texas, taking 1 for 41 on a highway of a pitch.
Here’s the video:
What a grab 🤯 Adam Milne takes a no-look stunner to dismiss Tim Seifert @TexasSuperKings pic.twitter.com/rqwu7XmTvW
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 19, 2026
Also READ: Major League Cricket 2026: Complete squads of all six MLC teams
Faf du Plessis’ brilliant hundred guides TSK to a famous victory
Chasing 221 runs on opening night is a daunting task for any team, especially after losing opener Saiteja Mukkamalla for a duck in the very first over. However, Texas Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis decided to lead from the front, staging an absolute clinic in aggressive T20 chasing.
Du Plessis counter-attacked immediately, partnering with Rilee Rossouw (49 off 21) to power TSK to an astonishing 89 runs in the mandatory powerplay. The skipper reached his half-century in just 24 balls and refused to slow down. He went on to smash a breathtaking 113 not out off just 52 deliveries, clearing the boundary 7 times and hitting another 9 fours.
Despite losing Rossouw, Milind Kumar (13), and Shubham Ranjane (10) along the way, Du Plessis remained completely unflappable. He found an able ally in Wiaan Mulder, who blazed a quick-fire 31* off 15 balls to completely take the wind out of Seattle’s sails. The duo shared an unbeaten 56-run partnership for the 5th wicket, guiding Texas over the line at 221/4 in just 18.3 overs. Du Plessis was deservingly named Player of the Match for a captain’s knock that sealed a famous 6-wicket victory to start their MLC 2026 campaign in style.
Also READ: MLC 2026: Fans erupt as Tim Seifert powers Seattle Orcas to stunning chase against Washington Freedom
