MLC 2025
Orcas have won their last two matches © MLC
Only one team has passed the SFU test so far in MLC 2025. It’s the team that’s in the second spot but with the same number of points as SFU. Toppling the San Francisco Unicorns hasn’t been easy at all this season but that’s the next challenge awaiting a rejuvenated Seattle Orcas. With six runs needed off the last ball against MI New York, Orcas batter Shimron Hetmyer launched that final ball beyond the ropes to end his side’s 10-game losing streak in style.
They followed that up with another thrilling win, this time against LA Knight Riders. These two wins against fellow strugglers this season has given Orcas a huge lift especially after the change in leadership. At the end of the day, all they need now is to consolidate their current position to keep both LAKR and MINY away and secure that final playoff spot that’s still up for grabs. If they can carry forward this momentum and pick up a massive win now against the table-toppers, that final playoff berth will be more or less in their control.
It’s not a straightforward task though as their final three league games are against the three teams that have actually qualified. And all three would want to do everything possible to finish in the top two to get that extra cushion. SFU in particular will be gunning to return to winning ways. Having won their first six games, their batting let them down against Freedom in their most recent match and with just two points separating them from the third-placed Texas Super Kings, SFU know that a win is of paramount importance.
When: July 1, 2025 at 7 pm local time (July 2, 4:30 am IST)
Where: Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground, Lauderhill, Florida
What to expect: It will be interesting to see what kind of surfaces the teams are presented with in Lauderhill. Last year, rain wreaked havoc during the T20 World Cup and the only game that did get underway was a low-scoring encounter. However, just over a month ago, USA and Oman did play out a high-scoring ODI.
Team News
San Francisco Unicorns
If they do opt to make a change, Jack Edwards could make way for Mark Chapman.
Probable XI: Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous(w), Glenn Maxwell(c), Jack Edwards/Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips, Obus Pienaar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar, Amila Aponso
Seattle Orcas
Last game, Sikandar Raza did mention that Gerald Coetzee had a niggle so they might want to stick with the same combination.
Probable XI: Shayan Jahangir(w), Josh Brown, Aaron Jones, Kyle Mayers, Heinrich Klaasen, Sikandar Raza(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Harmeet Singh, Jasdeep Singh, Waqar Salamkheil, Ayan Desai
© Cricbuzz
