LATE RALLY NOT ENOUGH AS UNICORNS LOSE TO LA KNIGHT RIDERS

San Francisco Unicorns, 173 (H Khan, 45; J Holder, 4/40) lost to Los Angeles Knight Riders, 184/7 (C Munro, 52; M Tromp, 49), by 11 runs.

The San Francisco Unicorns fell 11 runs short against the Los Angeles Knight Riders in their penultimate match of the Major League Cricket group stage on Friday night, finishing on 173 in pursuit of 185 at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium.

After losing the toss and being sent into the field, the Unicorns made a disciplined start with the ball, limiting the Knight Riders to 46/1 through the opening six overs. Aaron Hardie claimed the breakthrough in the last of the powerplay, removing Andre Fletcher for 15, while Xavier Bartlett and Matt Short combined to keep Colin Munro and the Knight Riders’ top order in check through the early stages.

Munro anchored the innings with 52 from 43 deliveries, sharing an 82-run partnership with Matthew Tromp to steady the Knight Riders through the middle overs. Short provided the crucial breakthrough by clean bowling Munro shortly after he reached his half-century before Ghulam Mudassar dismissed the dangerous Andre Russell for a quickfire 40 from 18 balls.

Despite the late wickets, the Knight Riders found another gear in the closing overs as Tromp struck 49 from 28 deliveries before becoming Bartlett’s second wicket of the evening. Jahmar Hamilton added an unbeaten 13 from five balls, including a six off the penultimate delivery, helping Los Angeles post 184/7. Bartlett (2/24) and Haris Rauf (3/25) were the pick of the Unicorns’ bowling attack.

Chasing 185, the Unicorns were immediately put under pressure as Jason Holder struck in the second over to dismiss Finn Allen for one. Lhuan-dre Pretorius briefly counterattacked with 18 from 11 deliveries, including a six off Ali Khan, before Holder produced a devastating spell to remove Pretorius and Sanjay Krishnamurthi in the fourth over. Aaron Hardie also fell, leaving San Francisco 42/4 after four overs.

Captain Matt Short and Hassan Khan responded with a composed rebuilding effort, combining for a 78-run partnership to revive the chase. Hassan struck 45 from 33 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six, while Short contributed 43 from 30 balls as the pair carried the Unicorns to 120/4 before Lloyd Pope broke the stand by dismissing Hassan. Ali Khan then removed Short in the following over, swinging momentum back in the Knight Riders’ favor.

Hammad Azam kept the Unicorns’ hopes alive with a blistering 40 from just 19 deliveries, striking four fours and two sixes. He shared valuable late partnerships with Rauf as San Francisco closed to within 12 runs entering the final over, but Holder returned to dismiss Azam following a successful review before Andre Russell claimed the final wicket to seal an 11-run victory for Los Angeles.

The Unicorns remain top of the MLC standings on net run rate and conclude the regular season on Saturday against the Seattle Orcas before turning their attention to the Major League Cricket playoffs in Oakland, California.