MINY VS SFU MATCH 16

Right then, that will be it from us for this contest. We hope you enjoyed the coverage. The action continues at the Major League Cricket, 2024. The next match of the competition will see the Texas Super Kings locking horns with the Washington Freedom in Match 17 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas. That game will be played on July 20th and will start at 6.00 am IST (12.30 am GMT). But as you know, you can always join early for all the build-up. Until then, take care, and cheers!

The skipper of San Francisco Unicorns is also the Player of the Match for his sublime knock. He says that he is pretty happy with the win. Adds that they bat deep and credits Hassan Khan who batted superbly today. Mentions that they need to pick the aggressive options and find the boundary when they can. Shares that he and Hassan Khan spoke well through the middle and got ahead of the game in the latter stages with the bat. Adds that he is happy to perform against the MINY side. Ends by sharing that they were under par with the bat but the guys showed a good fight and it shows the character of the team.

The losing skipper of MI New York, Kieron Pollard says the middle phase with the ball was the one where the opposition got back in the game but they had it covered for a long while with the bat but they gave it away in the end. Adds that around 120 was what they had in mind after their bowling in the first 10 overs but the opposition batted well and posted above 145 making things difficult for them. Says that one has to congratulate the opposition and not try to take credit away from them as they played better on the day. Says that he hasn't done justice to the side himself with his batting not firing and that has cost the team for the majority of the tournament. Closes by saying that the batting unit has not done well throughout the tournament and overall as a batting unit they have let the fans and franchise down but they still have one game to go and they'll look to play that well.

Matthew Short is up for a chat. He says it's a huge win as MI New York is a quality side and they have some brilliant players of T20 format. Credits Corey Anderson and Hassan Khan for that superb partnership that kept them in the game. Mentions that the top order has done well so far apart from today and the middle order stepped up when the side needed them the most and that's a good sign for any side.

Earlier today, the San Francisco Unicorns opted to bat first and posted a fighting score of 148 for 7 in their 20 overs. The Unicorns were reeling at 33 for 5 but the partnership of 87 between skipper Corey Anderson and Hassan Khan (44 off 35) brought them back in the game. Corey Anderson remained unbeaten on 59 off just 37 and played a crucial hand to get his side out of trouble.  Nosthush Kenjige and Trent Boult took two each for the MI New York side while Shepherd and Rashid Khan chipped in with one apiece. MI New York have slumped to their fourth loss of the season and have just a game in hand.

San Francisco Unicorns started well with the ball but lost their way in the middle phase of the innings. They, however, came back strong and got into the winning position. Brody Couch and Matthew Short shared five wickets among them while Haris Rauf and Hassan Khan chipped with one apiece. San Francisco Unicorns will be delighted with the win as they came back from behind and took the victory from the jaws of defeat. San Francisco Unicorns have qualified for the playoffs and moved to second position in the table.

Phew! What a cliffhanger we've witnessed in Dallas! San Francisco Unicorns held their nerves and won this game by 3 runs in the end. They become the second team after the Washington Freedom to book a place in the playoffs. Chasing a competitive score of 149 for the win, MI New York lost an early wicket of Ruben Clinton but Pooran and Brevis stuck around and added 77 for the second wicket. Dewald Brevis made an attacking fifty and departed on 56 off 36. The wicket of Brevis put the brakes on scoring for MI New York and they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Rashid Khan and Heath Richards swung their bats at the backend but failed to take their team over the line.

OUT! LBW! GAME. SET. MATCH. Haris Rauf has done it for the San Francisco Unicorns! Full-length delivery, on off. Heath Richards goes for the reverse sweep but misses and it clips off the pad, through to the keeper. Appeal from Rauf and the finger goes up. Heath Richards does not review and the Unicorns win by 3 runs. With this win, San Francisco Unicorns have qualified for the playoffs.

OUT! LBW! GAME. SET. MATCH. Haris Rauf has done it for the San Francisco Unicorns! Full-length delivery, on off. Heath Richards goes for the reverse sweep but misses and it clips off the pad, through to the keeper. Appeal from Rauf and the finger goes up. Heath Richards does not review and the Unicorns win by 3 runs. With this win, San Francisco Unicorns have qualified for the playoffs.

It is all happening here in Dallas. 16 runs scored of the last 5 balls and after 239 legal deliveries, it all comes down to the last ball. 4 runs needed off the final delivery.

SIX! CLOBBERED! Heath Richards has kept MI New York alive in the chase. Slower length ball, into the wicket. Heath Richards picks the length and smokes it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for a maximum.

Rauf has done well so far in this over but can he keep his nerves or will the shades of USA against Pakistan come back to haunt him? 10 runs are required off 2 balls now.

Pace-off, on a length, on off. Rashid Khan miscues the swing and lands in front of long off for one.

In the air and dropped! Slower back of a length, around off. Rashid Khan forces the pull toward the deep mid-wicket. Hassan Khan comes running in but puts down a tough chance. Two runs added to the score.

Full and at the stumps. Heath Richards drills it to extra cover for one.

Six runs off the first ball and the equation is down to 14 runs off the last 5 balls.

SIX! BOOM! Heath Richards starts the over with a maximum! Pace-off, full, and in the slot on off. Heath Richards clears the front leg and lofts it back over the bowler for half a dozen.

A brilliant 19th over by Pat Cummins has put San Francisco Unicorns in a commanding position heading into the final over. 20 runs are needed off the last over and the responsibility with the ball in hands to defend lies on the shoulders of Haris Rauf.