MLC 2025: San Francisco Unicorns Clinch Playoff Spot, Extend Unbeaten Run With Victory Over Seattle Orcas

The San Francisco Unicorns have become the first team to clinch a playoff spot in MLC 2025, after defeating the Seattle Orcas by 32 runs in Dallas on Wednesday night. The Unicorns maintain their undefeated record, winning all six of their matches and solidifying their position at the top of the leaderboard. Meanwhile, the Orcas suffered their fifth consecutive defeat and remain at the bottom of the table.

San Francisco Unicorns players celebrate beating Seattle Orcas by 32 runs during match 16.

Captain Matthew Short and Romario Shepherd delivered stellar all-round performances, complemented by Haris Rauf's four-wicket haul, securing victory for the Unicorns.

After being asked to bat first, the Unicorns lost Finn Allen early. However, a 68-run partnership between Jake Fraser-McGurk and Short stabilized the innings and provided momentum. McGurk was dismissed for 34 off 21 balls in the eighth over by Harmeet Singh, triggering a collapse that saw the Unicorns slip from 86 for 1 to 103 for 6. Short, who hit seven fours and two sixes during his 29-ball innings, was dismissed for 52 by Harmeet, who also took the wicket of Hassan Khan in the same over.

Shepherd then propelled the Unicorns to a competitive 176 for 8 with a rapid 56 off 31 balls, which included four sixes and four fours. Gerald Coetzee contributed with 3 for 34, taking crucial middle-order wickets.

Despite a promising start to their chase, this late surge proved too much for the Orcas to overcome, denying them their first win of the season.

Shayan Jahangir gave the Orcas a fast start, scoring 29 runs in the first two overs. He played aggressively to score 40 off 22 balls. However, Shepherd dismissed Jahangir in the seventh over, providing the breakthrough.

In the following over, Short struck twice, dismissing both David Warner and Kyle Mayers. The Orcas struggled to recover from these early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. Shimron Hetmyer and Sujit Nayak attempted to rebuild the innings, but their efforts were short-lived. Rauf, who had previously dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, wrapped up the innings by removing Coetzee and Hetmyer in the 16th over and Cameron Gannon in the 18th, finishing with figures of 4 for 32.

Brief Scores:

San Francisco Unicorns: 176 for 8 (Romario Shepherd 56, Matthew Short 52; Harmeet Singh 3-22, Gerald Coetzee 3-34)

Seattle Orcas: 144 all out (Shayan Jahangir 40; Haris Rauf 4-32, Short 3-12)