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Major League Cricket (MLC) made its debut in sunny Florida, but the weather was anything but bright for the clash between the Seattle Orcas and San Francisco Unicorns. Under ominous dark clouds, the Orcas won the toss and elected to bowl first on an unfamiliar Florida wicket, notorious for its low bounce. However, today’s pitch, with a tinge of grass, offered bowlers some assistance, setting the stage for an intriguing contest.

The Unicorns started cautiously, navigating the tricky conditions as wickets fell at regular intervals. Despite the challenges, they maintained a steady scoring rate, thanks to some standout performances. Youngster Sanjay Krishmurthy, a rising star from the East Bay Blazers minor league, showcased his potential with a scintillating 41 off 28 balls, including four towering sixes. His ability to rotate the strike and unleash big hits kept the Unicorns’ momentum alive. Krishmurthy was ably supported by Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tim Seifert, who helped the team post a respectable 168 runs in their 20 overs—a total slightly below par given the pitch and weather conditions.

For the Orcas, young bowler Ayan Desai was a revelation. After a tough outing in the previous game, the domestic talent bounced back impressively, claiming 2 wickets. The Orcas’ faith in their young bowler paid dividends, boosting his confidence and proving their commitment to nurturing homegrown talent.

Chasing 169, the Orcas’ batting lineup struggled early in the power play. The loss of Steven Taylor (0 off 10 balls), Kyle Mayers, and Sikandar Raza put them in a precarious position. The responsibility of steering the chase fell on Shayan Jahangir and the in-form Shimron Hetmyer. Both batters rose to the occasion, scoring consistently and keeping the Orcas in the hunt.

Shimron Hetmyer once again stole the show, continuing his red-hot form with a match-winning fifty—his third consecutive half-century. His composure and aggressive strokeplay guided the Orcas home in a tense final over. While Hetmyer’s brilliance secured the victory, the Orcas’ over-reliance on him is a growing concern. Other batters must step up soon, or the team risks crashing out of the tournament as they did in previous seasons.

For the Unicorns, Xavier Bartlett was the standout bowler, taking 2 wickets and conceding just 24 runs in his 4 overs. Despite employing seven bowlers, the Unicorns couldn’t defend their total, marking their second consecutive loss. Although they’ve already qualified for the playoffs, the Unicorns will be eager to end their round-robin stage on a high with a win in their next match.

Florida’s gloomy skies may have set the tone, but the Orcas shone brighter today, with Hetmyer and Desai emerging as the heroes of the match.

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