The San Francisco Unicorns continued their winning streak in the MLC 2025 season with a commanding 47-run victory over MI New York at Grand Prairie Stadium. After being invited to bat first by MINY skipper Nicholas Pooran, the Unicorns posted a mammoth 246/4 in their 20 overs.
Leading from the front, captain Matthew Short played a breathtaking knock of 91 off just 43 balls, striking nine fours and five sixes. He was well-supported by Jake Fraser-McGurk, who blazed his way to 64 from only 26 deliveries, hammering one four and an incredible seven sixes.
MINY’s chase never quite took off the way they would have hoped. Despite efforts from their middle order, they could only reach 199/6 by the end of their innings, falling well short of the target. It was their fourth defeat in the tournament, placing them under pressure as the league stage progresses. On the other hand, San Francisco Unicorns climbed to the top of the table with this dominant win—making it five victories in five games and solidifying their status as the team to beat this season.
Among the many fireworks on display, one particular shot by Matthew Short stole the spotlight and lit up social media. It happened in the fourth over of the Unicorns’ innings, bowled by Nostush Kenjige. On the very first delivery, Kenjige bowled a fuller one, and Short, with poise and precision, played inside the line to clip it effortlessly over the bowler’s head for a sublime straight six. The stroke had elegance written all over it, and Short didn’t stop there—he took 17 runs from that over, leaving the bowler rattled.
Short’s innings was not only powerful but also well-paced, blending aggression with finesse. Unfortunately, he fell short of a richly deserved century by just nine runs. His innings ended when Kieron Pollard bowled a fuller delivery angled into the pads, and Short tried to flick it through midwicket. He mistimed the shot slightly, sending it to the long-on region, where Heath Richards took a clean catch. Despite the miss, Short’s knock had already set the tone for the Unicorns’ massive total.
For his outstanding performance and leadership, Matthew Short was rightfully named ‘Player of the Match’. His explosive innings was the difference-maker, putting the game beyond MI New York’s reach early on.
Matt Short's just flirting with that century 😩 Cricket titan Kieron Pollard took him out at 91 runs. 🚫 pic.twitter.com/LKVHvLm40o
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 24, 2025
With this emphatic win, the San Francisco Unicorns not only secured two valuable points but also strengthened their position at the top of the MLC 2025 standings, marching confidently toward the playoffs with momentum firmly on their side.