Time for us to wrap up our coverage from this exciting MLC game. In the 15th match of the tournament, San Francisco Unicorns batters played a few blitzkrieg knocks to ensure they go home with 29 balls to spare. Washington Freedom bowlers had no answer to that carnage. Now the Unicorns sit comfortably at the helm of the points table.
Now we have a couple of days off before the Los Angeles leg starts on 1st of July. Washington Freedom will be locking horns with the Los Angeles Knight Riders in the very first game of that leg. First ball will be bowled at 7 AM IST and 6:30 PM Local Time. Do join us for that match.
For now, this is Saptak Sanyal signing off on behalf of my co-commentators AkshayaKrishna Polya and Deepak Prakash and the scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal. Have a good day.
Highest successful run chase for San Francisco Unicorns in MLC:
202/3 (T-199) vs Texas Super Kings, Dallas, 2025
192/8 (T-192) vs Seattle Orcas, Oakland, 2026
193/2 (T-191) vs Washington Freedom, Oakland, 2026 (This Match)
Biggest win for San Francisco Unicorns in MLC (By balls remaining):
34 vs Seattle Orcas, Dallas, 2024
29 vs Washington Freedom, Oakland, 2026 (This Match)
28 vs Los Angeles Knight Riders, Dallas, 2024
23 vs Texas Super Kings, Dallas, 2025
13 vs Texas Super Kings, Dallas, 2026
Matt Short (San Francisco Unicorns Captain):"[What pleases you the most when you reflect?] I thought we were a bit more composed with the ball. They obviously got off to another flying start, and we know they've got some powerful hitters, so we expected that. The key was to stay in the game and keep taking wickets. I felt 190 was probably a bit above par, but they batted really well. As Steve mentioned, Lhuan-dre was all class, and it was also nice to see Finn Allen spend some time in the middle. The two of them set the platform brilliantly for us.
[What goes through your mind when you're watching the two of them go together?] Hopefully they keep going. It's obviously what the crowd wants to see. Once those guys get going, it's fireworks. They strike the ball as cleanly and as hard as anyone, so it's great to watch.
[On crowd] As I've said over the last few games, we were lucky enough to get a taste of this last year, but I think this year's been even better. We love coming here and having the Coliseum as our home base. We really appreciate all the fans for coming out, and hopefully we'll see you all back here in a week or so for the finals."
Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Most Valuable Player of the Match):"(Which shot stands out to you?) Probably the one that took me to fifty. I wanted to get the record and I am glad that I reached the milestone with a six.
(When you came to know about the record of fifty?) I like looking at the stuff so yeah.
(You are consistent in doing it) I think it all comes down from the management's backing. They always speak positive and encourage positive mindset. Just the positive mindset and committing 100% is all about it. Hopefully it carries on working.
(What would be the secret for the fearlessness?) I think it by both ways. By recklessness and by not falling into the trap. I have played a couple of internationals with freedom and fearlessness. Now I am backing to read and assess the conditions which is important as an opening batter. Yeah that's all I am doing and committed to."
Most Valuable Player of the Match: Lhuan-dre Pretorius
Play of the Day: Obus Piennar
Power Hitter of the Day: Lhuan-dre Pretorius.
Time for the post-match presentations.
Steve Smith (Washington Freedom Captain): "[You chose to bat first. Do you feel that was a miscalculation on the team's part?] It definitely got a little wetter tonight than it did over the last couple of games, and the ball seemed to skid onto the bat a bit better. That said, I can't take anything away from the batters. Pretorius and Finn were world-class, and when those two get going together, they're incredibly difficult to stop.
[Were you confident 190 would be enough?] Yeah, we thought 190 was a good total on that wicket in the first innings. Obviously, we're disappointed with the way we started with the ball. They got off to a flying start and took the game away from us.
[How would you reflect on your team's Oakland leg?] Three games and just one win. It would've been nice to come away with two, but it's been great playing here in front of the fans. We've really enjoyed it, and now it's on to the next leg."