MLC 2025: Short's Brilliance, Shepherd's Blitz Propel Unicorns into Playoffs; Orcas Suffer Another Setback

The San Francisco Unicorns have clinched their spot in the MLC 2025 playoffs, emerging victorious against the Seattle Orcas by 32 runs in Dallas on Wednesday night. Their dominant performance continues as they maintain an unblemished record, securing their sixth consecutive win and solidifying their lead in the points table. In contrast, the Orcas have suffered their fifth consecutive defeat, remaining at the bottom of the standings.

San Francisco Unicorns players celebrate their triumphant victory over the Seattle Orcas.

Matthew Short, the captain, and Romario Shepherd showcased their all-round capabilities, while Haris Rauf's impressive four-wicket haul further contributed to the Unicorns' success.

Opting to bat first, the Unicorns faced an early setback with the loss of Finn Allen in the second over. However, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short forged a resilient 68-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings and injecting momentum into their play. McGurk's dismissal for a well-compiled 34 off 21 balls in the eighth over, courtesy of left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh, triggered a collapse, causing the Unicorns to slip from 86 for 1 to 103 for 6. Short, who showcased his power-hitting ability with seven fours and two sixes during his 29-ball innings, departed for 52 after being dismissed by Harmeet, who also claimed the wicket of Hassan Khan in the same over.

Shepherd then propelled the Unicorns to a competitive total of 176 for 8, smashing four sixes and four fours in his explosive 56 off 31 balls. Gerald Coetzee also contributed with 3 for 34, claiming crucial middle-order wickets.

Despite a promising start to their chase, this late surge proved insurmountable for the Orcas, who were once again denied their first win.

The Orcas accumulated 29 runs in the initial two overs, primarily due to Shayan Jahangir's impressive performance. Jahangir displayed an array of captivating shots, scoring 40 off just 22 balls. However, Shepherd intervened, dismissing Jahangir in the seventh over and breaking their momentum.

In the subsequent over, Short delivered a double blow, removing 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 briefly attempted to rebuild the innings, but their efforts were short-lived. Rauf, who had previously dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, concluded the innings by dismissing Coetzee and Hetmyer in the 16th over and 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, Short 3-12)