On June 15, 2025, Major League Cricket returned to the Oakland Coliseum with a blockbuster encounter between the San Francisco Unicorns and MI New York. In front of a capacity crowd under perfect summer skies, the Unicorns chased down a challenging 183‑run target with five balls to spare, thanks largely to a breathtaking cameo by Xavier Bartlett. This match marked the sixth fixture of the 2025 season and swung San Francisco’s momentum firmly in their favor.

Also Read : MLC 2025 Full Schedule, Fixtures & Key Matches

Date	15th June 2025
Venue	Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
Tournament	Major League Cricket 2025
Match	San Francisco vs MI New York
Toss	Unicorns won and opted to field first
Player of the Match	Xavier Bartlett (59 off 25; also 1/32)
Result	Unicorns won by 3 wickets (5 balls remaining)

• New York’s Power‐Hitting: De Kock and Pollard combined for 93 runs at a strike rate north of 150, but sparse support from the tail restricted the total to under 190.
• Unicorns’ Bowling Discipline: Despite conceding 182, the Unicorns maintained tight lines in the death overs; Rauf’s two for 24 and le Roux’s double strike in the powerplay were decisive.
• Chasing Under Pressure: Early wickets tested San Francisco’s depth. Yet Khan’s audacious 17‑over cameo and Bartlett’s fearless assault demonstrated the Unicorns’ deeper batting reserves.

Team	Strengths	Weaknesses
San Francisco Unicorns	Explosive middle order; variety in bowling attack, especially pace	Top order vulnerability early in chase
MI New York	Big hitters at the top (de Kock, Pollard); spin options in middle overs	Inconsistent lower‑order; death bowling lapse

• Xavier Bartlett (Unicorns): 59 off 25 balls, man‑of‑the‑match knock; also returned figures of 1/32.
• Quinton de Kock (MI New York): Anchored the innings with 63 off 38, mixing caution and aggression.
• Haris Rauf (Unicorns): 2/24 in 4 overs, including the wicket of de Kock, kept the required rate in check.
• Hassan Khan (Unicorns): Electric 43 off 17, bridging the gap between top order and lower order.

• Tim Seifert (Unicorns): A steady wicketkeeper‑batsman; his ability to rotate strike will be crucial.
• Carmi le Roux (Unicorns): A rising pace bowler whose variations troubled MI New York’s power‑hitters.
• Kieron Pollard (MI New York): A proven match‑winner; his finishing prowess could turn games.
• Sunny Patel (MI New York): Left‑arm spin/medium‑pace option who can change the course in middle overs.

• Noor Ahmad (TSK): His wrist spin is proving to be a deadly weapon in MLC 2025.
• Daryl Mitchell (TSK): The all-rounder’s consistency is anchoring TSK’s middle order.
• Andre Russell (LAKR): Needs to step up with both bat and ball to revive LAKR’s campaign.

The Oakland pitch offered a true balance: decent pace on offer for the seamers with enough grip for slower deliveries. Early moisture under the covers assisted the new ball, explaining MI New York’s brisk start in the powerplay. As the game progressed, the surface eased out, allowing batters to play freely—hence the final tally of 12 fours and 13 sixes by the Unicorns.

Unicorns’ Tactics

• Opting to field first leveraged their versatile bowling attack under lights, aiming to keep the run‑rate in check before unleashing Bartlett at the death. Their flexible batting order allowed them to promote Khan and Bartlett when the chase faltered.

MI New York’s Approach

• With a top‑heavy batting lineup, New York planned to capitalize early but needed a stronger finish. Their bowling plan revolved around spin in the middle overs, though expensive final overs allowed Bartlett to dominate.

Catch all MLC 2025 action live on:

• Live Broadcast: Willow TV (USA), Sky Sports (UK)
• Streaming: MLC Official App, Fancode (India)
• Highlights: Available on MLC YouTube channel within 24 hours of match completion.

• On-Field Umpires: Wayne Knights, Jermaine Lindo
• TV Umpire: Paul Wilson
• Match Referee: Simon Taufell

San Francisco Unicorns Coaches: Head Coach Greg Shipperd; Bowling Coach Heath Streak; Batting Consultant Chris Rogers

MI New York Coaches: Head Coach Robin Singh; Spin Coach Abdur Rehman; Fielding Coach Ryan ten Doeschate

San Francisco’s thrilling three‑wicket victory over MI New York underscored the growing competitiveness of Major League Cricket. Bartlett’s breathtaking finish and the Unicorns’ collective resilience highlighted that in T20 cricket, momentum can shift on a single over. As the season progresses, both teams will look to refine their strategies—San Francisco aiming to build on this successful chase, and New York desperate to shore up their death bowling. Enthralling contests like this promise an exciting road ahead for MLC 2025.