MLC 2025: San Francisco Unicorns Clinch Playoff Spot with Dominant Victory Over Seattle Orcas

The San Francisco Unicorns have clinched their spot in the MLC 2025 playoffs, becoming the first team to do so after a commanding 32-run victory over the Seattle Orcas on Wednesday night in Dallas. The Unicorns maintain their perfect record, boasting six wins in six matches and solidifying their lead at the top of the table. For the Orcas, this marks their fifth consecutive loss, leaving them languishing at the bottom of the standings.

San Francisco Unicorns celebrate playoff qualification after defeating Seattle Orcas.

The Unicorns' triumph was fueled by exceptional all-round performances from captain Matthew Short and Romario Shepherd, complemented by a stellar four-wicket haul from Haris Rauf. The Unicorns won crucial mini-battles throughout the contest.

After being put in to bat, the Unicorns suffered an early blow with the loss of Finn Allen in the second over. However, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Short forged a resilient 68-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings and injecting much-needed momentum. McGurk's dismissal for a blistering 34 off 21 balls in the eighth over, courtesy of left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, triggered a sudden collapse as the Unicorns slipped from a promising 86 for 1 to 103 for 6. Short, who showcased his power-hitting prowess with seven boundaries and two towering sixes during his 29-ball innings, departed for a well-compiled 52 after being dismissed by Harmeet Singh in the same over that he accounted for Hassan Khan.

Romario Shepherd then seized the initiative, smashing four sixes and four fours in a scintillating 56 off just 31 balls. His explosive innings propelled the Unicorns to a competitive total of 176 for 8. Gerald Coetzee also contributed significantly, claiming 3 for 34, including crucial middle-order wickets.

Despite a promising start to their chase, this late onslaught proved insurmountable for the Orcas, who were once again denied their first win of the season. Shayan Jahangir provided early impetus, striking a rapid 40 off 22 balls. However, Shepherd struck a crucial blow, dismissing Jahangir in the seventh over.

In the following over, Short dealt a double blow, removing both David Warner and Kyle Mayers in quick succession. The Orcas struggled to recover from these early setbacks, losing wickets at regular intervals. While Shimron Hetmyer and Sujit Nayak attempted to rebuild the innings, their efforts proved short-lived. Haris Rauf, who had earlier dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, sealed the victory by dismissing Coetzee and Hetmyer in the 16th over, followed by Cameron Gannon in the 18th, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 32.

Match Summary:

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, Matthew Short 3-12)