San Francisco Unicorns and Seattle Orcas faced off in a tense, low-scoring thriller at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Florida. The match saw dramatic swings in momentum, with the Unicorns initially gaining the upper hand while defending a modest total of 169.
However, a breathtaking knock from Shimron Hetmyer shattered their hopes, as the left-hander powered Seattle to victory with an unbeaten 78 off just 37 balls, sealing the win with three balls to spare.
The Unicorns showed great fight with the ball and appeared to be tightening the noose on the Orcas midway through the chase. Their breakthrough moment came in the 10th over when Karima Gore turned the game on its head.
On the second ball of his over, Shayan Jahangir drilled a straight drive, but Gore’s sharp reflexes saw him deflect the ball onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. This unexpected deflection caught Sikandar Raza well short of his crease, and the Unicorns erupted in celebration.
Gore wasn’t done yet. Just a few balls later, he delivered a pinpoint yorker that shattered Jahangir’s stumps, sending the opener back and putting San Francisco firmly in control. His double-strike in the over reduced Seattle to 63/4 at the halfway stage of their innings. With momentum swinging toward the Unicorns, it looked like they might successfully defend their total.
But Shimron Hetmyer had other plans. The experienced West Indian batter absorbed the pressure and then exploded into action, finding boundaries with precision and power. His composed yet aggressive innings turned the tide completely in Seattle’s favor. Despite losing partners at the other end, Hetmyer kept his calm, anchoring the chase with smart stroke play and timely big hits.
1️⃣ 👉 Run out 🏃
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 2, 2025
2️⃣ 👉 Bowled 💥
Karima Gore gets two wickets in just two balls for the @SFOUnicorns! 🦄 pic.twitter.com/ym7M5UqpFs
In the end, Hetmyer’s masterclass proved too much for the Unicorns’ bowlers. He not only rescued his side from a tough position but did so in style, guiding Seattle Orcas to a thrilling win. For San Francisco, it was a tough loss to digest after having been in a promising position, but they were ultimately undone by one man’s brilliance.