SF Unicorns vs Texas Super Kings Preview – MLC 2026 | Statz

San Francisco Unicorns host Texas Super Kings at Oakland Coliseum in a pivotal early-season clash in Major League Cricket 2026. The Unicorns sit 2nd in the table (P2 W1 L1), level on points with three other sides, while Texas are down in 5th (P3 W1 L2) and already in need of a result. First ball at 7:00 AM IST (2:30 AM BST) on Wednesday 25 June.

The Venue

Oakland Coliseum is tagged a batting paradise by Statz Cricket – and the numbers back it up. Across 9 T20s at this ground, the average first innings score is 193.6 with a bat-first win rate of 67%. The average match total sits at a massive 341.8 runs, with 22.9 sixes per game. This is a venue that rewards aggressive batting from ball one.

Pace bowlers account for 70.3% of wickets at an economy of 9.32, while spinners go at 8.86 but only claim 25% of the scalps. The most recent match here saw MI New York chase 200 with 6 balls to spare, and the game before that produced a 113-run win for Washington Freedom off 208/5. Expect fireworks.

Form and Table

San Francisco Unicorns are 2nd with 2 points from 2 matches (W1 L1). They opened with a defeat to Los Angeles Knight Riders (150/7 vs 154/3) before bouncing back with a convincing 7-wicket win over this same Texas side, chasing 153 with 13 balls to spare.

Last 5 results: W vs TSK (153/3), L vs LAKR (150/7), L vs MINY (131/10), L vs LAKR (233/10), W vs TSK (148/6).

Texas Super Kings sit 5th with 2 points from 3 matches (W1 L2). Their only win came against Seattle Orcas (221/4 chasing 220/2 in a thriller), but they have lost to both SFU and MI New York since. TSK’s bowling has been the issue – conceding an average of 178.3 runs per innings this season.

Last 5 results: L vs MINY (158/10), L vs SFU (152/9), W vs SO (221/4), L vs MINY (166/5), NR vs WSF.

MLC 2026 Standings – Top 4:

Both San Francisco Unicorns and Texas Super Kings have plenty of cricket left to play. SFU return to Oakland Coliseum for the first time this season after two away games, while TSK head on the road after three straight home fixtures.

Head-to-Head

Six meetings since 2023 (Statz data). San Francisco Unicorns lead the head-to-head 4-2 and have won the last four in a row – including a comfortable 7-wicket win at Grand Prairie Stadium just five days ago.

The last meeting on 20 June saw SFU restrict TSK to 152/9 before Matthew Short and Lhuan-dre Pretorius anchored the chase. Both teams are unbeaten at Oakland Coliseum – SFU 3-0 as the home team, TSK 3-0 as visitors – so something has to give.

Statz Projections

Statz gives San Francisco Unicorns a 55.4% win probability in the batting-first scenario, with Texas Super Kings at 42.6%.

The projected first innings total sits at 198.5, above the venue average of 193.6, with a projected match total of 382.8 – well north of the ground average of 341.8. The P10 to P90 range for the first innings is 170 to 228, and 332 to 431 for the match total. The model has 0.97 confidence.

In the alternate scenario where TSK bat first, the contest tightens considerably – SFU 48.6% vs TSK 49.4%. The toss could be decisive.

See full projections on the Statz projections page.

Competition Season Leaders

Orange Cap – Top 5 Run Scorers:

1. Mitchell Owen (Washington Freedom) – 216 runs, 2 innings
2. Tim Seifert (Seattle Orcas) – 187 runs, 3 innings
3. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (San Francisco Unicorns) – 127 runs, 2 innings
4. Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) – 119 runs, 2 innings
5. Kieron Pollard (MI New York) – 107 runs, 2 innings

Purple Cap – Top 5 Wicket Takers:

1. Ottneil Baartman (Seattle Orcas) – 8 wickets, 3 innings
2. Jasdeep Singh (Seattle Orcas) – 6 wickets, 3 innings
3. Peter Siddle (San Francisco Unicorns) – 5 wickets, 2 innings
4. Dasun Shanaka (Seattle Orcas) – 5 wickets, 3 innings
5. Corbin Bosch (MI New York) – 5 wickets, 2 innings

San Francisco Unicorns Season Leaders (Runs): Lhuan-dre Pretorius 127 runs (avg 63.5, HS 69), Matthew Short 61 runs (avg 30.5, HS 31), Sanjay Krishnamurthi 33 runs (avg 16.5, HS 19).

San Francisco Unicorns Season Leaders (Wickets): Peter Siddle 5 wickets (best 3/, 2 matches), Matthew Short 3 wickets (best 2/, 2 matches).

Texas Super Kings Season Leaders (Runs): Faf du Plessis 119 runs (avg 59.5, HS 113), Rilee Rossouw 93 runs (avg 31, HS 49), Milind Kumar 69 runs (avg 23, HS 39).

Texas Super Kings Season Leaders (Wickets): Amshi de Silva 3 wickets (best 1/, 3 matches), Hardus Viljoen 2 wickets (best 1/, 3 matches).

Predicted XIs

San Francisco Unicorns (based on XI vs Texas Super Kings, 20 Jun 2026):

1. Finn Allen
2. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk)
3. Matthew Short (c)
4. Connor Esterhuizen
5. Sanjay Krishnamurthi
6. Hassan Khan
7. Hammad Azam
8. Ravichandran Ashwin
9. Brody Couch
10. Peter Siddle
11. Ghulam Mudassar

Texas Super Kings (based on XI vs MI New York, 22 Jun 2026):

1. Rilee Rossouw
2. Saiteja Mukkamalla
3. Donovan Ferreira (c)
4. Smit Patel (wk)
5. Wiaan Mulder
6. Shubham Ranjane
7. Milind Kumar
8. Amshi de Silva
9. Adam Milne
10. Hardus Viljoen
11. Akeal Hosein

Note: Check the Statz fixture page for confirmed lineups after the toss.

Dream11 Tips – Captain and Vice Captain

Captain: Wiaan Mulder (101.5 projected Dream11 points) – The South African all-rounder offers value with both bat and ball. Projected for 26.4 runs and just under a wicket, his dual contribution makes him the safest captain pick in this match.

Vice Captain: Finn Allen (92.8 projected Dream11 points) – The New Zealand opener is projected for 41.9 runs at a strike rate of 202. On a batting paradise like Oakland Coliseum, Allen can be devastating in the powerplay and beyond.

Also consider:

• Matthew Short – 85.0 pts
• Hardus Viljoen – 84.1 pts
• Peter Siddle – 78.1 pts

Key Players

Finn Allen (SFU) – Projected for the highest individual score in this match at 41.9 runs with a ridiculous projected strike rate of 202.1. Allen has 195 runs in 6 career MLC meetings with TSK, smashing 14 sixes along the way. The powerplay is his domain and Oakland Coliseum is his playground.

Wiaan Mulder (TSK) – The highest projected Dream11 scorer in the match at 101.5 points. Mulder scored 31, 12 and 15 in his three MLC 2026 innings so far, hitting 20+ runs at a 33.3% clip this season. His medium pace adds value, projected for just under a wicket at an economy of 10.03.

Peter Siddle (SFU) – The veteran Australian sits 3rd in the MLC Purple Cap race with 5 wickets from just 2 matches, including a 3-wicket haul last time out. On a batting paradise, wicket-takers are gold dust, and Siddle is delivering consistently.

Rilee Rossouw (TSK) – The left-hander has scored 20+ runs in 66.7% of his MLC 2026 innings and 30+ at the same rate. With 93 runs at an average of 31 this season, Rossouw is TSK’s most consistent bat in the current XI.

Conditions

Fair skies and 18 degrees at match start with 34% cloud cover, 69% humidity and minimal wind. No rain expected – full 40 overs should be completed.

Verdict and Betting Angles

San Francisco Unicorns are rightfully favoured here. They have won four straight against Texas Super Kings, are 3-0 at Oakland Coliseum, and the Statz model gives them a 55.4% win probability batting first. TSK’s bowling unit has been expensive this season, and Oakland is not the ground to leak runs.

The Unicorns are 1.57 (Midnite) / 1.61 (Ladbrokes) to win. Texas Super Kings are 2.25 across the board.

Betting angles:

• SFU to win – Four straight H2H wins, 3-0 at Oakland, 55.4% Statz win probability. The price is short but the form backs it.
• Rilee Rossouw 20+ runs – 66.7% hit rate this MLC season. On a batting paradise with a first innings average of 193.6, the left-hander looks well set for a contribution.
• Peter Siddle 1+ wickets – Has taken at least 2 wickets in both MLC 2026 outings. Third in the Purple Cap with 5 from 2 matches.
• Match total over 340 – The venue average is 341.8 and Statz projects 382.8 for this match. Both lineups are stacked with power hitters.

Build your own bet at the Statz Cricket Bet Builder.