San Francisco Unicorns edged out Los Angeles Knight Riders by 6 wickets to start their Major League Cricket season 2 campaign on a high note. Batting first, the Los Angeles Knight Riders posted 165 runs in 20 overs, thanks to Andre Russell’s (40* off 25) pivotal knock. San Francisco Unicorns, in a dominant batting display, chased down Kinght Riders’ total with 28 balls to spare, courtesy of Finn Allen (63 off 37) and Matthew Short’s (58 off 26) scintillating knocks.
Match Summary
- Toss: Corey Anderson (SFU) won the toss and opted to field.
- Los Angeles Knight Riders Innings: 165/6 in 20 overs
- Andre Russell: 40* (25)
- Shakib Al Hasan: 35 (26)
- Key Bowler: Brody Couch (2/24)
- San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 166/3 in 15.2 overs
- Finn Allen: 63 (37)
- Matthew Short: 58 (26)
- Key Bowler: Spencer Johnson (3/36)
Key Moments
Haris Rauf draws the First Blood
The Pakistani speedster, Haris Rauf shared the new ball from the other end of the strip and it took him only four balls to get his first wicket in this match. He trapped the Knight Riders opener, Sunil Narine for a mere 6 runs and provided an early breakthrough for San Francisco Unicorns.
Unmukt Chand departs for a Duck
The star performer with the bat for the Los Angeles Knight Riders in their opening game, Unmukt Chand, failed to make an impact in this contest. The right-handed batter fell prey to Brody Couch on the final ball of the third over, departing for a 5-ball duck. 
Russell’s Impactful Knock
Andre Russell entered the fray when his side was reeling at 96/5 in the 13th over of the innings. The West Indian batter helped his side come out of the slump by smashing 2 fours and 3 sixes, remaining unbeaten on 40 runs off 25 balls, which helped the Knight Riders cross the 160-run mark.
Spencer Johnson Gets the Better of His Compatriot
The left-arm Aussie pacer operated with the new ball for the Knight Riders and won the battle against his compatriot, Jake Fraser-McGurk. Johnson trapped JFM for just 9 runs in the third over of the innings and provided his side an early breakthrough, courtesy of a successful review from Suni Narine.
Finn Allen & Matthew Short Shine with Blazing Knocks
Finn Allen (63 off 37) and Matthew Short (58 off 26) went on a rampage from the outset, hammering Knight Riders bowlers all around the park. The dynamic duo forged a formidable 116-run partnership for the second wicket, both reaching their fifties and steering the game well beyond the reach of the Knight Riders.
Implications and Future Prospects
Shakib Al Hasan, Nitish Kumar, and David Miller need to improve their strike rates as their scoring rate was not impressive in this match, which stopped Knight Riders from posting a good total on the board. Los Angeles’ bowling seemed mediocre as they leaked runs at regular intervals and conceded 166 runs in just 15.2 overs. Andre Russell is firing with the bat, but he needs to regain his rhythm with the ball.
On the other hand, San Francisco Unicorns performed well in all three departments but their death over bowling needs improvements as they conceded 44 runs in the last four overs of this game.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Los Angeles Knight Riders vs Seattle Orcas: July 9 (local time)
- Parimatch Odds: 1.68x for Los Angeles Knight Riders
- San Francisco Unicorns vs Texas Super Kings: July 10 (local time)
Conclusion
Finn Allen and Matthew Short proved too hot for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, who now need to regroup and stage a comeback in their next match. Meanwhile, San Francisco Unicorns’ thumping win significantly boosted their net run rate (+2.576) and placed them at the top of the points table.
