San Francisco Unicorns edged out MI New York by a slender margin of 3 runs in an enthralling MLC contest. Batting first, Unicorns posted 148 runs in 20 overs, thanks to Corey Anderson’s (59 off 37) valuable knock. In response, MI New York batters faltered, managing only 145 runs in 20 overs, courtesy of Matthew Short’s (3/27) impressive bowling.
Match Summary
- Toss: Corey Anderson (SFU) won the toss and opted to bat.
- San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 148/7 in 20 overs
- Corey Anderson: 59 (37)
- Hassan Khan: 54 (35)
- Key Bowler: Nosthush Kenjige (2/13)
- MI New York Innings: 145/7 in 20 overs
- Dewald Brevis: 56 (36)
- Nicholas Pooran: 26 (30)
- Key Bowler: Matthew Short (3/27)
Key Moments
Nosthush Kenjige Strikes In the Opening Over
The left-arm orthodox started the proceedings with the new ball for MI New York and drew first blood straightaway in the opening over. He trapped Finn Allen (2 off 3) on the third ball of the innings, taking a stupendous catch in his follow-through and diving to his right. 
Unicorns Lose a Flurry Of Wickets in the First Half
The San Francisco side got off to a shaky start after opting to bat first, as they were rocked hard by the New York bowlers. They lost Finn Allen (2 off 3), Matthew Short (4 off 7), Sanjay Krishnamurthi (1 off 3), Josh Inglis (1 off 7), and Sherfane Rutherford (14 off 15) in the first half of the innings and were tottering at 33/5 in seven overs.
Corey Anderson’s Pivotal Knock
The Unicorns skipper stepped up with the bat when his team was in turmoil and played a valiant knock. The left-hander paired up with Hassan Khan, adding 87 runs for the sixth wicket and lifting his side out of the slump. He remained unbeaten on 59 runs off 37 balls, including four fours and two sixes. His valuable innings helped San Francisco post 148/7 in 20 overs.
Dewald Brevis’ Well-compiled Knock
The Protea batter was promoted to open the innings in this contest and he stood up to the expectations. The right-hander scored a brisk 56 runs off 36 balls, smashing five fours and three sixes. His aggressive batting approach provided a solid start to MI New York.
Matthew Short Turns the Fortune of the Game
The Aussie all-rounder didn’t make an impact with the bat in this contest, but he changed the game with his bowling. He struck first for the Unicorns by dismissing Ruben Clinton for a duck in his opening over. The Unicorns were on the back foot for a while, but Short returned to take two crucial wickets, removing a well-set Pooran (26 off 30) and big hitter Romario Shepherd (7 off 7) in quick succession. His impressive spell of 3/27 proved to be match-winning, as the Unicorns secured a narrow victory by 3 runs.
Implications and Future Prospects
MI New York bowled brilliantly in the first half of the innings but couldn’t maintain the momentum, allowing Corey Anderson and Hassan Khan to settle at the crease. Batting has been a major concern for the New York-based franchise during this tournament, and they paid the price for it.
On the other hand, Unicorns were brilliant with the ball and successfully defended a modest total. However, their top and middle-order batters misfired in this contest which they would like to overcome in the upcoming games.
Upcoming Fixtures
- San Francisco Unicorns vs Seattle Orcas: July 20 (local time)
- Los Angeles Knight Riders vs MI New York: July 21 (local time)
Conclusion
San Francisco Unicorns have qualified for the playoffs with seven points from five matches. They are currently sitting in second place on the points table and will look to secure their position in the top two in the upcoming games.
On the other hand, MI New York is almost out of the tournament after losing four games in a row. Pollard and Co. are currently fifth on the points table with three points from six games. They will aim to win their last league game to keep their slim hopes alive in the tournament.
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