A buzzing last few days in the 2024 Major League Cricket takes a pause with a couple of dead rubber in the queue. With the qualifications locked in, match 20 will feature San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom at the Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas.
Both teams have played six matches in the MLC with the Unicorns winning four out of them and being positioned second in the league table with nine points. Meanwhile, the Freedom’s have acquired eleven points after five wins. They’re yet to lose a game in the ongoing competition.
Both teams are also expected to face off against one another in the Qualifier 1 of MLC – the winner will make the finals. This game might serve as a good test to their bench strength ahead of the high-stake encounters. WF, let us quickly look at the match prediction, top players, head-to-head stats and pitch report. 
Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Pitch Report
During the course of the MLC 2024, pacers frequently found the ball swinging early in the game here. In addition, the worn-out pitches have resulted in more wickets for spinners. Matches have been won by both batting first and second. Also, batting isn’t easy as one needs to be calculative in their approach to get used to the bounce and movements.
Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Pitch Stats
Total Matches: 10
Matches won batting first: 5
Matches won bowling first: 5
Average 1st innings total: 163
Average 2nd innings total: 140
Highest total recorded: 206/5 by LAKR vs WF
Lowest total recorded: 106 by NEP vs NED
with an impressive strike rate of 180.85. It’s also worth noting that he has the second-highest strike rate among the MLC’s top 15 run scorers. Short can also show up with his full quota of overs, spraying right-arm offies.
SFU vs WF Head-to-Head
Both teams have squared off once in MLC history and the Washington-based side edges past San Francisco in the last edition.
SFU vs WF Conditions-based Predictions
- Batters have been finding it difficult to score runs
- Pacers get new ball movement
- The spinners get good grip off the surfaces.
SFU vs WF Top Players Predictions
Finn Allen (SFU): The Kiwi has been amazing with the bat in hand for the Unicorns. The opener has often given quick starts to the team and also converted the starts into big scores. Having scored 186 runs from five innings at the strike rate of 202.17 in the on-going MLC, Allen is the leading run-getter of his side. He has also scored two fifties in the tourney.
Matthew Short (SFU): The Australian all-rounder has been in excellent form with the bat. He has frequently employed quick starts to propel his team to a formidable total. Short has 170 runs in six innings
Travis Head (WF): The destructive Aussie opener continued to flourish with the bat following his impressive run in the IPL 2024 and World Cup 2024. Head has smashed 194 runs from six matches at an average of 38.80 in this MLC. He has been striking the ball at 179.63. Head has often given fiery starts to his side inside the powerplay.
SFU vs WF Hit or Miss Prediction
Jasdeep Singh (WF): Recently made his MLC debut, Jasdeep Singh has been one of the emerging players of the marquee event. The pacer has bucketed six wickets from two matches including back-to-back three-fers. His bowling average reads 6.50.
SFU vs WF Local Players to watch out for
- Saurabh Netravalkar (WE)
- Jasdeep Singh (WF)
- Corey Anderson (SFU)
SFU vs WF Match Predictions
According to Parimatch, the Freedom have a strong opening line-up with Steve Smith and Travis Head in charge and could score over 23.5 runs (1.85) for the first wicket. However, the Freedom have a good new ball attack and San Francisco’s openers have blown hot and cold. Hence, they might have an opening stand under 22.5 (1.85). However, given the aggressors they possess at the top of the batting order with the likes of Allen, Matt Short, and Jake Fraser-McGurk, the Unicorns are likely to have a better opening stand (1.94).
SFU vs WF Winner Predictions
Both teams have played some good cricket in the tournament and it would be difficult to suggest the winner of the match. However, if we go by the on-paper strength, Freedoms look more sounded in terms of team balance.
