San Francisco Unicorns thumped Seattle Orcas by 23 runs and registered their second win in the ongoing MLC. Batting first, Unicorns posted 165 runs in 20 overs, thanks to Matthew Short’s (56 off 32) scintillating knock. In response, Shehan Jayasuriya (54 off 37) provided a rollicking start to Orcas but their latter batters faltered, managing only 142 runs in 20 overs.
Match Summary
- Toss: Heinrich Klaasen (SEA) won the toss and opted to bowl first.
- San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 165/7 in 20 overs
- Matthew Short: 56 (32)
- Finn Allen: 34 (18)
- Key Bowler: Cameron Gannon (3/26)
- Seattle Orcas Innings: 142/6 in 20 overs
- Shehan Jayasuriya: 54 (37)
- Ryan Rickelton: 29 (21)
- Key Bowler: Liam Plunkett (3/26)
JFM Falters Again
The Aussie batter is grappling with his form in the ongoing MLC, having mustered only 31 runs in 3 innings. The right-hander smashed a couple of boundaries in this contest but failed to convert into a good score. In the third over of the innings, he attempted a pull shot but failed to connect and lost his timber, falling prey to Imad Wasim with 11 runs to his name.
Matthew Short’s Well-Compiled Knock
The right-hander came out to bat at number three and continued his merry ways in this tournament. He paired up with Finn Allen (34 off 18) and stitched together 75 runs for the second wicket, laying a solid foundation. The Australian batter notched up his second half-century in this MLC and contributed 56 runs off 32 balls, with 4 fours and sixes each. 
Cameron Gannon’s Impressive Bowling
The right-arm pacer dismantled Unicorns’ middle order, restricting them to under 170 runs. He dismissed Matthew Short, Corey Anderson, and Hassan Khan, finishing his spell with impressive figures of 3/26.
Shehan Jayasuriya’s Impressive Knock
The southpaw spearheaded the innings for the Orcas and provided a solid start, forging a 76-run partnership for the first wicket with Ryan Rickelton (29 off 21). Jayasuriya attacked renowned bowlers like Haris Rauf, Liam Plunkett, and Pat Cummins fearlessly, impressing everyone with his strokeplay. He scored 54 runs off 37 balls, smashing 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Plunkett’s Match-Winning Spell
The Unicorns struggled to break the opening partnership, taking them 8.3 overs to get their first breakthrough, courtesy of Liam Plunkett. The right-arm pacer extracted three crucial wickets—Ryan Rickelton, Aaron Jones, and Harmeet Singh—helping his side come out on top in this contest. His impressive bowling spell (3/26) turned the game’s tide, earning him the Player of the Match award. In the process, he also reached the milestone of 150 wickets in T20s.
Implications and Future Prospects
Barring openers, Orcas’ batters faltered miserably and they had to bear the brunt of it by losing the game from a strong position. Aaron Jones and Harmeet Singh need to step up with the bat, while Quinton de Kock and Heinrich Klaasen need to be consistent. In the bowling department, Nandre Burger (3 wickets in 4 innings) and Imad Wasim (3 wickets in 4 innings) are yet to make a significant impact.
On the other hand, Jake Fraser-McGurk (31 runs in 3 innings), Josh Inglis (24 runs in 3 innings), and Corey Anderson (19 runs in 3 innings) are some key players whose form is a major concern for the Unicorns. They need to find their groove quickly before it’s too late. Haris Rauf (2 wickets in 3 innings) has yet to impress with the ball in this MLC.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Seattle Orcas vs Los Angeles Knight Riders: July 17 (local time)
- MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns: July 18 (local time)
Conclusion
With this win, San Francisco Unicorns moved to number three on the points table, with five points from four games. They will aim to maintain this momentum in upcoming matches and secure a top-two finish.
On the flip side, the Seattle Orcas are floundering at the bottom of the points table with two points from four games. They must address their loopholes and stage a comeback in the upcoming matches to stay alive in the tournament.
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