San Francisco Unicorns Clinch Playoff Spot in Major League Cricket 2025 With All-Round Dominance

The San Francisco Unicorns became the first team to secure a playoff berth in Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, delivering a thrilling 32-run win over the Seattle Orcas in a high-stakes showdown at Grand Prairie Stadium.

Anchored by Romario Shepherd’s explosive late-innings cameo, Matthew Short’s all-round heroics, and a devastating four-wicket spell from Haris Rauf, the Unicorns overcame a mid-innings collapse to post a defendable total of 176/8 before bowling out the Orcas for 144.

Short and Shepherd Rebuild After Middle-Order Collapse

After losing opener Finn Allen early to a sharp delivery from Gerald Coetzee, the Unicorns found rhythm through Matthew Short, who posted his third consecutive half-century of the tournament. A quickfire 34 from Jake Fraser-McGurk added momentum, but Harmeet Singh turned the tide for Seattle, claiming three wickets—including both set batters—while Coetzee added two more to leave San Francisco reeling at 103/6.

But just as the innings threatened to unravel, Romario Shepherd stepped up in style. The West Indies all-rounder smashed four massive sixes off Obed McCoy, rescuing the Unicorns with a rapid 56 and setting Seattle a challenging 177-run target.

Seattle Starts Strong, But Unicorns Strike Back

The Orcas began the chase confidently with Shayan Jahangir scoring a brisk 40, but his dismissal by Shepherd triggered a catastrophic collapse. From 66/1, the Orcas slumped to 73/4 within two overs, with key wickets including veteran David Warner, who continues to struggle this season.

While Shimron Hetmyer and Sujit Nayak showed resistance, Matthew Short’s golden day extended into his bowling spell as he picked up three critical wickets, breaking partnerships and dashing hopes of a Seattle comeback.

Rauf and Shepherd Seal the Win

Pakistan speedster Haris Rauf reinforced his status as one of the top bowlers in MLC 2025, dismantling the Orcas’ lower order with a four-wicket haul. Rauf now leads the tournament with 16 wickets in just six matches. Alongside him, Shepherd added two more wickets to his tally, earning Player of the Match honors for his match-defining contributions with both bat and ball.

What’s Next in Major League Cricket 2025

With this win, the San Francisco Unicorns remain atop the table and will face the Washington Freedom this Saturday as they aim to maintain their unbeaten momentum into the playoffs.

The Seattle Orcas, still searching for their first win of the season, face a must-win match against MI New York on Friday to keep any slim playoff hopes alive.

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