MATCH 25 AND 26 AT MLC 2025: FLORIDA DOUBLE HEADER DELIVERS TRILLS DESPITE RAIN

Jul 5, 2025

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Florida’s weather tested everyone’s patience in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 double header, but the groundsmen worked miracles to keep the games on schedule. With no overs reduced despite rain delays, fans were treated to two intense matches. Here’s how the day unfolded.

Match 1: Texas Super Kings vs. San Francisco Unicorns

The rain-soaked outfield at Florida posed challenges, but the match went ahead after heroic efforts from the grounds crew. Texas Super Kings (TSK) won the toss and, unsurprisingly, opted to field first on a soggy pitch favoring bowlers.

The Unicorns’ batting lineup found the going tough on a spinner-friendly pitch. Most batters struggled to adapt, but Matt Short and Hassan Khan shone brightly, anchoring the innings with brilliant strokeplay. Their efforts ensured the Unicorns posted a competitive 148 runs.

TSK’s Marcus Stoinis was the standout bowler, claiming 3 crucial wickets to keep the Unicorns in check. Nandre Berger kept the hit going with 90+mph bowling. Spinners dominated, exploiting the pitch’s grip to make scoring difficult.

The Unicorns’ Brody Couch struck early, removing two TSK batters quickly to put them on the back foot. However, youngsters Saiteja and domestic star Shubham rebuilt the innings, keeping TSK in the hunt. The match remained evenly poised, heading into a tense final over.

Bartlett held his nerve for the Unicorns, bowling a tight last over to restrict TSK to 147—just one run short of victory. This thrilling win propelled the Unicorns back into the top two, while TSK, despite already qualifying, slipped to third in the points table.

Match 2: Seattle Orcas vs. Washington Freedom

The second game saw the Seattle Orcas, desperate for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive after MI New York’s victory over LA Knight Riders the previous night, take on a formidable Washington Freedom side. Unfortunately for Orcas fans, it wasn’t their day.

The Orcas, who had been in fine form over their last three games, played recklessly and lost too many wickets in the powerplay. Glenn Maxwell was the wrecker-in-chief for Freedom, bowling an astonishing 17 dot balls and taking 3 wickets for just 12 runs. Only Heinrich Klaasen offered resistance, but with no support from the other end, the Orcas crumbled to a paltry 82 runs—their second sub-100 total this season.

Defending such a low total, the Orcas’ bowling and fielding were lackluster. Washington Freedom’s Rachin Ravindra and Mukhtar Ahmed wasted no time, chasing down the target in under 10 overs. This emphatic win boosted Freedom’s net run rate, cementing their top-two position.

Playoff Race Heats Up

With only four games left in the league stage, the race for the fourth playoff spot remains wide open. The Unicorns and Freedom have strengthened their positions, but the Orcas’ campaign is now on life support. Every match counts as teams battle for a chance at MLC 2025 glory.

The groundsmen deserve a standing ovation for ensuring cricket triumphed over Florida’s relentless rain. Fans are already buzzing for the next set of matches—bring it on!

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We'd love to hear from you, write to us at batballusa@gmail.com

© 2025 Batball USA. All rights reserved.

We'd love to hear from you, write to us at batballusa@gmail.com

© 2025 Batball USA. All rights reserved.