Texas Super Kings muzzled San Francisco Unicorns by 7 wickets to open their winning account in the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC). Batting first, San Francisco Unicorns were skittled for a paltry 127 runs in 17.5 overs, courtesy of Mohammad Mohsin’s (4/13) impressive bowling display. Super Kings chased down 127 runs with 43 balls to spare, thanks to Faf du Plessis’ (34 off 17) rapid start.
Match Summary
- Toss: Faf du Plessis (TSK) won the toss and opted to field.
- San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 127/10 in 17.5 overs
- Matthew Short: 33 (15)
- Hassan Khan: 19 (22)
- Key Bowler: Mohammad Mohsin (4/13) in 3.5 overs
- Texas Super Kings Innings: 128/3 in 12.5 overs
- Faf du Plessis: 34 (17)
- Aaron Hardie: 34 (23)
- Key Bowler: Hassan Khan (2/16)
Key Moments:
Zia-ul-Haq’s Double Blow with the New Ball
After opting to bowl first, Faf du Plessis deployed Zia-ul-Haq with the new ball, and the left-arm pacer grabbed two crucial wickets. He removed Finn Allen (10 off 4) in the first over of the innings and then trapped the big fish, Jake Fraser-McGurk (11 off 7), in his second over, removing both openers inside the first three overs and providing a solid start.
Matthew Short’s Cameo
Despite losing both openers quickly, Matthew Short came out all guns blazing and scored a rapid 33 runs off just 15 balls, providing the San Francisco Unicorns with the required acceleration in the powerplay. 
Dwayne Bravo and Mohammad Mohsin put Unicorns on the back foot
Bravo and Mohsin wreaked havoc with the ball in their opening overs, each grabbing two wickets. Bravo removed Josh Inglis (1 off 2) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (17 off 12) on the third and fifth balls of his first over, while Mohsin trapped Corey Anderson (3 off 4) and Liam Plunkett (0 off 1) on the last two balls of his first over. The impressive bowling from the duo helped the Super Kings stage a comeback and put the Unicorns in deep waters. Mohsin continued his impressive form, finishing with a 4-fer in 3.5 overs as the San Francisco Unicorns were skittled for a paltry 127 runs.
Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis Set the Tone for the Chase
Devon Conway and Faf du Plessis spearheaded the innings for the Super Kings, showing intent right from the start. They combined for a 61-run opening partnership in just 4.5 overs, setting a strong foundation for the team. Du Plessis departed after a quickfire 34 off 17 balls, while Conway retired hurt after scoring 32 off 19 balls.
Implications and Future Prospects
San Francisco Unicorns batters faltered miserably in this contest, and their lower middle order batters threw away their wickets by playing rash shots. Jake Fraser-McGurk needs to regain his rhythm quickly, as the Aussie batter has looked sluggish in both matches he has played. Abrar Ahmed has yet to make a significant impact with his leg-spin bowling. He needs to step up in the upcoming matches to curb the scoring rate in the middle overs.
On the other hand, the Super Kings’ batting and bowling have improved in the last couple of games. However, they need to improve their fielding standards, as they dropped a few regulation catches in the field that could haunt them later in the tournament.
Conclusion
The Texas Super Kings registered their first win in this MLC, and their thumping victory over the San Francisco Unicorns has bolstered their net run rate (+1.333), propelling them to the top of the points table with 3 points from as many matches. The Men in Yellow will aim to carry the momentum in the upcoming matches.
Conversely, a humiliating defeat at the hands of Super Kings has dented Unicorns’ net run rate (-0.723), leaving them languishing in fifth place on the points table. They must address their loopholes to stage a comeback in the next game.
