San Francisco Unicorns beat MI New York by 5 wickets (with 19 balls remaining) – Major League Cricket Match Report
San Francisco Unicorns won by 5 wickets (with 19 balls remaining) in the 22nd match of 34 in Major League Cricket at Fairgrounds Cricket Stadium in Pomona. Matthew Short delivered a match-defining all-round performance – 21 off 20 with the bat and a devastating 4/17 from 4 overs with the ball – to steer the Unicorns to a comfortable chase. The win lifts San Francisco to 1st (4W 3L, 8pts, NRR +0.367) while MI New York slip to 3rd (4W 3L, 8pts, NRR +0.041).
MI New York Innings – 104 All Out
San Francisco won the toss and elected to bowl. MI New York’s batting lineup crumbled under sustained pressure, collapsing to 104 all out in 20 overs. Monank Patel made a bright start with 11 off 7 (2 fours) but fell at 18/1 in the opening over. Quinton de Kock departed for a duck at 3/2, leaving MI New York in early trouble.
Nicholas Pooran offered resistance with 20 off 19 (4 fours) but was bowled at 45/3. Corbin Bosch provided the most substantial contribution with 21 off 22 (2 fours, 1 six), building a crucial 50-run stand with Corey Anderson (14 off 27). However, the middle order offered little resistance as wickets tumbled. Tristan Luus managed 12 off 14 before falling at 101/9.
Matthew Short was the standout bowler, claiming 4/17 from 4 overs at an economy of 4.25 – a masterclass in death bowling. Brody Couch took 3/32 from 4 overs, while Haris Rauf chipped in with 1/13 from 4. Aaron Hardie claimed 1/20 from 4 overs as San Francisco’s bowling attack proved too disciplined.
San Francisco Chase – Krishnamurthi Seals Victory
San Francisco made light work of the chase, reaching 105 for 4 in just 16.5 overs. Lhuan-dre Pretorius was bowled for a duck at 1/1 in the opening over, but Matthew Short steadied the innings with 21 off 20 (3 fours) before falling at 49/2.
Finn Allen departed for 5 at 30/3, but Sanjay Krishnamurthi took control with a composed 48 off 45 (4 fours, 2 sixes) at a strike rate of 107. Krishnamurthi’s unbeaten innings anchored the chase, building crucial partnerships and seeing San Francisco home with 19 balls to spare. Aaron Hardie contributed 4 off 7 before falling at 66/4, while Hassan Khan (11 off 24) played the role of steady accumulator.
Faisal Khan Ahmadzai was the pick of MI New York’s bowlers with 2/23 from 4 overs, while Tristan Luus took 2/21 from 4. Shakib Al Hasan went for 25 runs from 4 overs without taking a wicket, a costly spell in a low-scoring match.
Statz MVP: Matthew Short (Statz Rating: 116.88)
Matthew Short earns the Statz MVP award with a Statz Rating of 116.88 – a dominant all-round display that swung the match decisively in San Francisco’s favour. His 4/17 with the ball was the most economical spell of the evening, strangling MI New York’s batting in the powerplay and death overs. His 21 off 20 with the bat then provided crucial momentum during the chase, setting the tone for the successful run-down. Short’s combined impact across both disciplines was the difference between the sides.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Matthew Short (SFU) – Statz Rating: 116.88 | 21 off 20 (SR 105) plus 4/17 from 4 overs (economy 4.25). Dominant all-round masterclass in a tight contest.
- Tristan Luus (MINY) – Statz Rating: 71.25 | 12 off 14 with the bat plus 2/21 from 4 overs with the ball. Solid all-round contribution in defeat.
- Faisal Khan Ahmadzai (MINY) – Statz Rating: 59.73 | 6 off 7 with the bat plus 2/23 from 4 overs. Economical bowling display despite the loss.
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi (SFU) – Statz Rating: 55.54 | 48 off 45 (SR 107, 4 fours, 2 sixes). Composed unbeaten innings that sealed the chase.
- Haris Rauf (SFU) – Statz Rating: 48.25 | 1/13 from 4 overs at economy 3.25. Miserly bowling in a low-scoring match.
Turning Point
The match turned decisively in the 17th over of MI New York’s innings when Corbin Bosch was dismissed LBW at 95/8 (ball 17.3). Bosch had been building momentum with 21 off 22, and his loss exposed the lower order completely. From that point, MI New York managed just 9 runs in the final 2.3 overs, leaving San Francisco with a gettable target of 105.
Match Context
This was the 22nd match of 34 in the Major League Cricket regular season. San Francisco (1st, 4W 3L, 8pts, NRR +0.367) move to the top of the standings with a crucial home win. MI New York (3rd, 4W 3L, 8pts, NRR +0.041) remain in contention but will need to arrest a slide in form. Check the full scorecard on Statz for complete match details, or explore bet builder options for this fixture.
