MLC 2025: Short's Heroics Propel Unicorns to Playoffs, Orcas Remain Winless

The San Francisco Unicorns have secured their place in the MLC 2025 playoffs, remaining undefeated after a commanding 32-run victory over the Seattle Orcas in Dallas on Wednesday night. This win marks their sixth consecutive triumph and solidifies their lead in the tournament standings. Conversely, the Orcas suffered their fifth successive loss and remain at the bottom of the table.

San Francisco Unicorns celebrate their decisive victory over the Seattle Orcas, securing their spot in the MLC 2025 playoffs.

Matthew Short's captain's innings, combined with Romario Shepherd's explosive batting and Haris Rauf's devastating bowling, were instrumental in the Unicorns' success.

After being put in to bat, the Unicorns faced an early setback with the loss of Finn Allen. However, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short forged a crucial 68-run partnership, stabilizing the innings and injecting momentum. Fraser-McGurk's quickfire 34 off 21 balls was cut short by Harmeet Singh, triggering a mini-collapse that saw the Unicorns slip from 86 for 1 to 103 for 6. Short, who had been in scintillating form, smashing seven boundaries and two sixes, was dismissed for 52 by Harmeet, who also accounted for Hassan Khan in the same over.

Romario Shepherd then took center stage, unleashing a barrage of sixes and fours in a breathtaking innings of 56 off just 31 balls. His explosive hitting propelled the Unicorns to a competitive total of 176 for 8. Gerald Coetzee contributed with 3 for 34, claiming vital middle-order wickets.

Despite a promising start to their chase, the Orcas were unable to secure their first win of the season.

Shayan Jahangir provided the initial impetus, scoring a rapid 40 off 22 balls, including a range of impressive shots. However, his dismissal by Shepherd in the seventh over proved to be a turning point.

In the following over, Short struck twice, dismissing both David Warner and Kyle Mayers in quick succession. The Orcas struggled to recover from these early blows, losing wickets at regular intervals. While Shimron Hetmyer and Sujit Nayak attempted to rebuild the innings, their efforts were short-lived. Rauf, who had earlier dismissed Heinrich Klaasen, sealed the victory by removing 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)