In what turned out to be one of the most explosive matches of Major League Cricket 2025, San Francisco Unicorns outclassed MI New York with a commanding 47-run victory at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, on June 23. A blistering knock by Matthew Short (91 off 43) and a destructive partnership with Jake Fraser-McGurk (64 off 26) laid the foundation for a mammoth total of 246/4. Despite valiant efforts from Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel, MI New York could only manage 199/6 in reply.

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

Date	23th June 2025
Venue	Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
Tournament	Major League Cricket 2025
Match	San Francisco Unicorns VS MI New York
Toss	MI New York won the toss and opted to field
Player of the Match	Matthew Short – 91 (43) & 2 economical overs
Result	San Francisco Unicorns won by 47 runs

The Unicorns launched an all-out assault from the get-go, smashing 246/4 in 20 overs. MI New York’s bowlers were taken apart, with sixes flying all over the Dallas night sky. In response, the MI batters had their moments, especially through De Kock’s 70 and Monank’s 60, but the towering total proved too much.

San Francisco batted with a clear aggressive strategy, scoring at 12.3 runs per over. Short and McGurk combined for a 74-ball 155-run stand, effectively taking the game away before MI even came out to bat.

MI New York started their chase well, reaching 119 before the first wicket, but a cluster of middle-order wickets between overs 15 and 17 shattered their momentum. The Unicorns bowled with discipline in the final overs, not allowing the likes of Pollard or Pooran to build explosive innings.

San Francisco Unicorns

• Strengths:
  • Aggressive top order led by Short and McGurk
  • Middle-order power from Hassan Khan (31 off 9)
  • Bowling unit absorbed pressure despite De Kock’s form
• Weaknesses:
  • Death bowling exposed in first 10 overs of MI’s chase
  • Gave away 17 extras including 10 wides

MI New York

• Strengths:
  • Strong top three: De Kock, Monank, and Pollard
  • Solid batting depth
• Weaknesses:
  • Inconsistent bowling – leaked boundaries at will
  • Lack of breakthroughs in powerplay and mid overs
  • Michael Bracewell had a poor outing (2 overs, 35 runs)

• Matthew Short (SFU) – 91 (43), 9 fours, 5 sixes
• Jake Fraser-McGurk (SFU) – 64 (26), 7 sixes
• Hassan Khan (SFU) – 31* (9), finished strong
• Quinton de Kock (MI NY) – 70 (46), fought hard
• Monank Patel (MI NY) – 60 (33), explosive anchor
• Romario Shepherd (SFU) – 2/30 in 4 overs

• Matthew Short – currently in top form, leading from the front
• Jake Fraser-McGurk – aggressive intent, clean striker
• Kieron Pollard – effective all-rounder, needs to bowl more
• Xavier Bartlett – economical wicket-taker under pressure

The pitch at Grand Prairie Stadium was an absolute belter. With short boundaries and a true bounce, it offered no respite to bowlers. Anything pitched full or short disappeared into the stands. Teams batting first here have a major edge when they cross the 220-mark.

San Francisco Unicorns:

• Opted for raw aggression from ball one.
• Focused on boundary-hitting rather than rotating strike.
• Used part-timers smartly to plug gaps in bowling.

MI New York:

• The decision to bowl first backfired.
• Bowling lacked variations and yorkers during death.
• Batting order was top-heavy with not enough finishers at the end.

Catch all the Major League Cricket 2025 matches live on:

• ESPN+ – Live streaming platform for global audiences
• Willow TV (USA)
• JioCinema (India)
• YouTube (MLC Official Channel) – Highlights and match clips

• On-field Umpires: Leslie Reifer, Jermaine Lindo
• TV Umpire: Paul Wilson
• Referee: Jeff Crowe
• SFU Coaching Team: Likely includes former Aussie players and tacticians focusing on power-hitting
• MI NY Staff: Known for Caribbean flair and experience with global stars like Pollard and Pooran

This match was a masterclass in modern T20 batting. San Francisco Unicorns flexed their muscles, showing why they are a force in MLC 2025. With players like Short and McGurk in lethal form, and a batting strategy built around strike rate, they’ll be hard to stop this season. MI New York must now recalibrate both bowling tactics and middle-order responsibilities to bounce back in upcoming matches.