Brought to you by Batball USA – Your Home for American Cricket

Match 19: Washington Freedom vs. San Francisco Unicorns

On a scorching summer afternoon in Dallas, the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season delivered a blockbuster clash between table-toppers Washington Freedom and the unbeaten San Francisco Unicorns. Freedom, opting to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch, were expected to dominate with their explosive top order, which had consistently powered them to strong starts in the power play. However, SF Unicorns’ Xavier Bartlett had other plans.

Bartlett, in scintillating form this tournament, tore through Freedom’s top order, claiming 4 wickets in the power play. His fiery spell left Washington reeling at 37/4, a stark contrast to their usual fireworks. The Unicorns’ bowling attack, balanced by Bartlett’s brilliance, seemed to have the game in their grasp.

Despite the early collapse, Washington’s middle order showed resilience. Jake Edwards and Glenn Phillips, the latter fresh off a last-ball heroics against LAKR, steadied the ship. A late surge from domestic stars Obus Pienaar and Mukhtar Ahmed pushed Freedom to a below-par 169. On a pitch favoring batsmen, defending this total seemed a daunting task.

The Unicorns’ chase began with a blistering power play, led by Matthew Short’s aggressive strokeplay. However, the tiring Dallas pitch offered spin-friendly conditions, and Freedom’s bowlers capitalized.

Mitchell Owen, in stellar form, delivered a match-defining performance, claiming 5 wickets to derail the Unicorns’ middle order.

Despite their unbeaten streak, SF struggled to cope with the spin onslaught, and Washington held their nerve to secure a thrilling victory, clinching a playoff spot in MLC 2025.

Match 20th: Seattle Orcas vs. Los Angeles Knight Riders

The second game of the double header saw a resurgent Seattle Orcas take on the Los Angeles Knight Riders in a battle for survival. Fresh off their first win in 11 games—a last-ball thriller sealed by Heymer’s six—the Orcas were brimming with confidence. Opting to bowl first, they backed their chasing prowess under the Dallas lights.

Seattle’s bowlers executed their plans well early on, keeping LAKR’s scoring in check. However, Saif Badar and Andre Russell broke free, followed by Rovman Powell’s explosive cameo, propelling LAKR to a formidable 202.

The Orcas faced the daunting task of chasing 200+ for the second consecutive night.

The chase started poorly with opener Josh Brown falling early, but Shayan Jahangir, in red-hot form, and Aaron Jones, back after a three-game absence, kept the Orcas in the hunt. Jones smashed 73 off 38 balls, setting the stage for Shimron Hetmyer.

Continuing his heroics from the previous night, Hetmyer bludgeoned 64 off 26 balls, including six massive sixes, to guide Seattle to victory with one ball to spare.

LAKR’s bowling unit, barring Jason Holder and Tanvir Sangha, struggled to contain the Orcas’ onslaught. Mediocre bowling and fielding lapses cost them dearly, as Seattle capitalized on every opportunity.

Despite the win, Seattle’s fielding remains a glaring weakness. Dropped catches and leaking runs in the field could haunt them in crunch moments. However, with back-to-back wins, the Orcas have ignited the race for the final playoff spot, setting up an exhilarating finish to the MLC 2025 season.

As the tournament heats up, every match promises more drama, and Dallas remains the epicenter of cricketing thrill.

Stay tuned for more MLC action as the battle for the title intensifies!

© 2025 Batball USA. All photos and content are copyrighted. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.