LA Knight Riders Secure Thrilling Victory Over San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket
Knight Riders Triumph in High-Scoring Encounter
In a gripping finale to their 2025 Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC) season, the LA Knight Riders emerged victorious against the San Francisco Unicorns by 11 runs. Andre Fletcher showcased his batting prowess with a stunning century, marking his second of the season, while debutant Karthik Gattepalli impressed with bowling figures of 3 for 31.
This match marked only the Knight Riders' second win of the season, serving as a powerful reminder of their potential. After the Unicorns opted to bowl first, the Knight Riders displayed aggressive intent right from the start. Alex Hales, who had been struggling, made a strong comeback by hitting three boundaries in the opening over bowled by Xavier Bartlett.
Fletcher took center stage, unfazed by rain interruptions that shortened the match to 19 overs. He smashed an impressive 118 runs off just 58 balls, including 10 fours and 8 sixes.
Sherfane Rutherford contributed significantly with a rapid 49 runs off 20 balls, helping the Knight Riders reach a formidable total of 243/3. The Unicorns faced a challenging target, with their bowlers unable to contain the Knight Riders' batting onslaught. Hassan Khan and Bartlett each took a wicket but conceded runs at over 10 per over. The absence of Haris Rauf due to injury was notable, with Ben Lister stepping in as his replacement.
In response, the Unicorns struggled initially, facing a strong debut from Gattepalli. The left-arm spinner made an immediate impact by dismissing Matthew Short with his very first delivery in T20 cricket and later took out Jake Fraser-McGurk in the same over, finishing with remarkable figures of 3 for 31.
Despite early setbacks, the Unicorns mounted a spirited fightback led by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who scored 92 runs off 40 balls, and Hassan Khan, who added 35 runs off 17 balls. Hammad Azam contributed 38 runs, and Xavier Bartlett's late hitting kept the chase alive. However, the Knight Riders' fielding was inconsistent, with errors that could have cost them dearly.
Jason Holder played a crucial role in slowing down the Unicorns' momentum, taking 2 wickets for 28 runs, while Shadley van Schalkwyk sealed the victory by claiming the last two wickets in consecutive deliveries, bowling out the Unicorns for 233 with just one ball left.
Although the Knight Riders finished their season with only two wins, this match highlighted their capabilities. The Unicorns, who had a strong start to the season with a six-match winning streak, ended up losing three of their last four games, finishing third in the group stage and setting up an Eliminator match against MI New York on July 9th in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Match Summary: LA Knight Riders defeated San Francisco Unicorns by 11 runs (DLS method)
LAKR: 243/3 in 19 overs (Andre Fletcher 118, Alex Hales 58, Sherfane Rutherford 49*; Hassan Khan 1/43, Xavier Bartlett 1/44)
SFU: 233/10 in 18.5 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 92, Hammad Azam 38, Hassan Khan 35; Karthik Gattepalli 3/31, Jason Holder 2/28, Shadley van Schalkwyk 2/44).