MLC 2025
Fraser-McGurk’s assault helped Unicorns take firm control early on in the powerplay © MLC
Led by Jake Fraser-McGurk’s blazing 38-ball 88, followed by Xavier Bartlett’s 4-fer, San Fransico Unicorns registered their second successive victory in MLC 2025. Yet again, it was a comprehensive thumping, this time faced by Los Angeles Knight Riders, who were beaten by 32 runs in a high-scoring encounter in California.
Put in to bat, Unicorns lost Tim Seifert early, but Finn Allen and Fraser-McGurk’s assault helped Unicorns take firm control early on in the powerplay. The most brutal of the assaults was reserved for Shadley van Schalkwyk, who was smoked for four sixes in the fifth over.
The carnage continued even after the field restrictions were lifted as the duo went on to pile 121 runs for the second wicket in only 54 balls before Allen was dismissed by Narine for 52. Despite Fraser-McGurk’s continued assault, van Schalkwyk and Ali Khan ensured that they didn’t keep up with that scoring rate as the rest of the batters struggled to find momentum. Haris Rauf hit a couple of boundaries and a six late in the innings to help Unicorns finish with a commanding 219 for 8.
In response, LAKR were pegged back early with the dismissals of their openers, Andre Fletcher and Alex Hales. However, Unmukt Chand ensured they weren’t too far behind the eight ball. The LAKR No 3 stroked a 32-ball 53, but Unicorns were able to keep Matthew Tromp in check. Liam Plunkett, Broady Couch and Hassan Khan, who eventually proved expensive, stifled the scoring rate through the middle overs, which eventually proved game-changing. In a space of six overs, they conceded only 37 runs.
Sunil Narine hit a couple of sixes and three boundaries in his brief stay to push the scoring rate, but by then, the target had become too stiff. Rauf and Bartlett returned four wickets apiece to bundle out LAKR, and ensured another comfortable win for Unicorns.
Brief Scores: San Fransico Unicorns 219/8 in 20 overs (Jake Fraser-McGurk 88, Finn Allen 52; Shadley van Schalkwyk 3-50) beat Los Angeles Knight Riders 187 in 19.5 overs (Unmukt Chand 53, Matthew Tromp 41; Xavier Bartlett 4-28, Haris Rauf 4-41) by 32 runs
© Cricbuzz
