Match 3, Oakland, June 15, 2025, 02:30 AM
San Francisco Unicorns
219/8(20.0ov)
Los Angeles Knight Riders
187/10(19.5ov)
San Francisco Unicorns beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by 32 runs
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Jake Fraser-McGurk
Commentry
Right then, that is it from this contest, but it is a double-header day in the MLC and up next is a highly-anticipated clash. Seattle Orcas will be taking on the reigning champions, Washington Freedom, in Match number 4, and you can simply switch tabs and check our coverage of that game. Until next time, then, cheers!
Corey Anderson, the San Francisco Unicorns skipper, says that it was a pretty clinical performance and a good wicket as well as the ball was a little bit holding up on the surface. Mentions that Jake Fraser-McGurk is such a clean striker of the ball, and it's great to see him get going. Shares that their batters figured out quickly that the ball is holding up a bit and played nicely according to it. Adds that their bowlers did a great job as well, and Rauf stepped up and bowled well on the big stage.
Jake Fraser-McGurk is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. Jake admits that it has been a while since he has gotten a big score in any format, and it feels nice after hitting the ball so cleanly. Says that happy to contribute to the team’s win. Adds that they have worked hard, and it has been amazing to work with them. Mentions that about his punch shot, as the boundaries aren’t too big, and he is happy to clear those.
The Presentation ceremony...
Los Angeles Knight Riders skipper, Sunil Narine, is down for a chat. Narine says that SFU got off to a good start, but they pulled things back in the end, thanks to brilliant death bowling from Andre Russell and Ali Khan. Mentions that they were looking to execute yorkers and keep it wide away from the batter. Adds that they have experienced guys, and they will try to apply themselves. States that it's just the first game, so they don't need to go too deep, and they have to play freely. Concludes that Dwayne Bravo is a champion and has a lot of knowledge. The players ask him a lot of questions, but it's about executing in the middle.
Earlier in the game, Los Angeles put San Francisco into bat, and once again, it was carnage from the SF top order. Finn Allen followed up that massive ton in the opening game with a fine half-century. But it was Jake Fraser-McGurk who stole the show as he hit 11 sixes en route to 88 quick runs, setting up the game for his side. LAKR clawed their way back into the game with a plethora of wickets, but a few big hits at the end ruined the momentum.
The Knight Riders needed a big Powerplay, but after a few early boundaries, they lost both their openers. Unmukt Chand was the one who led the fightback, notching up a 50 in the process as well. But he got out and the required rate for way too much. Debutant Matthew Tromp tried his best and Sunil Narine smoked the ball from the get-go go but by then it was a bit too late.
With a big total on the board, the Unicorns needed a wicket or two up top to take control, and they did get that. However, there was some resistance from the opposition batters, but with wickets coming at regular intervals, San Francisco managed to stay ahead in the game. Haris Rauf was expensive in his first over but came back and changed the game with a double-wicket over, whereas Liam Plunkett had an off day. Rauf ended up with a four-fer, so did Xavier Bartlett, who cleaned up the tail very nicely.
San Francisco Unicorns make it two wins out of two to kickstart their 2025 MLC campaign, and they are looking like a really dangerous side. As for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, they've had an underwhelming history in this tournament, and they have work to do if they are to make this a positive season.
In over# 20
0W
0
1
1wd
0W
1
Xavier Bartlett 28/4(3.5)
OUT! CAUGHT! San Francisco Unicorns win by 32 runs and now, they have won their consecutive two games! A full toss, around off, Sunil Narine clears out his front leg away and swings hard at it, but the bat face gets turned in his hands and the ball flies over to long off, where Brody Couch takes a safe catch.
19.5
W
OUT! CAUGHT! San Francisco Unicorns win by 32 runs and now, they have won their consecutive two games! A full toss, around off, Sunil Narine clears out his front leg away and swings hard at it, but the bat face gets turned in his hands and the ball flies over to long off, where Brody Couch takes a safe catch.
19.4
.
A well-directed yorker, around off, Narine opens bat face very late and slices it to short third.
19.3
1
Hard length and around off, Tanveer Sangha looks to pull it but gets it off the top edge of the bat to deep mid-wicket for one.
19.3
1wd
WIDE! Fuller but down the leg side. Called a wide!
Tanveer Sangha is the last man in for LAKR.
OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Sensational bowling this from San Francisco Unicorns as Bartlett bowls a searing yorker, right in the blockhole, around off, and that is too good for Ali Khan as he tries to jam it out but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball hits the middle stump, and they aren't even celebrating now, which shows their confidence!
19.2
W
OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! Sensational bowling this from San Francisco Unicorns as Bartlett bowls a searing yorker, right in the blockhole, around off, and that is too good for Ali Khan as he tries to jam it out but gets beaten on the outside edge. The ball hits the middle stump, and they aren't even celebrating now, which shows their confidence!
19.1
1
WOW! Great effort! Full and around middle, Sunil Narine drills it down the ground, where Cooper Connolly runs in to his right from long on and cuts it off to restrict the batters for just a single.