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Match 22 of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 brings a high-stakes rematch between San Francisco Unicorns and Seattle Orcas , set to be played at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium Turf Ground in Lauderhill, Florida . These two sides met earlier this season in Dallas, where Unicorns defeated Orcas by 32 runs , but since then, Seattle have bounced back with two consecutive wins , including a stunning chase of 238 against MI New York .
This game could shape both teams’ playoff hopes — SFU are still unbeaten before this match, while SOR look to continue their revival. With explosive batters and unpredictable weather on the cards, expect drama from start to finish.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | San Francisco Unicorns vs Seattle Orcas |
| Date | 2 july 2025 |
| Venue | Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill |
| Time | 4:30 IST |
| Competition | Major League Cricket (MLC), Season 2025 |
Team Previews
San Francisco Unicorns Preview
San Francisco Unicorns have been the standout team of MLC 2025 so far — they’ve won all five of their matches and sit comfortably at the top of the standings. However, their first loss of the season came in the last match , where they failed to chase down 170 against an aggressive bowling attack.
Captain Matthew Short has been in scintillating form, scoring 67, 52, and 91 in his last three innings , anchoring the innings effectively. His opening partner Finn Allen hasn’t fired yet, but he remains dangerous when in form.
Middle-order batters like Jake Fraser-McGurk, Hassan Khan, and Romario Shepherd offer firepower and flexibility. The team relies on them to either accelerate or stabilize depending on the situation.
In bowling, Haris Rauf continues to be the go-to pacer, though his economy has been inconsistent. Xavier Bartlett delivered a stellar performance in the previous game, taking 4 wickets for just 32 runs .
Jahmar Hamilton (wk) adds value lower down the order, and Liam Plunkett and Brody Couch provide support with pace and control.
If SFU can tighten their death bowling and find better middle-order stability, they should remain strong title contenders.
Seattle Orcas Preview
Seattle Orcas looked out of sorts early in the tournament but have made a dramatic turnaround with two consecutive wins , including a historic chase of 238 against MI New York , proving that they can compete with any side when clicking as a unit.
Captain Sikandar Raza has led from the front, and opener Shayan Jahangir has been consistent behind the stumps. Their most dangerous player is Shimron Hetmyer , who has hit back-to-back fifties and scored 90 and 64 in recent games** — making him one of the most feared finishers in the league.
Aaron Jones also found form in the last match, scoring 73 off 38 balls , forming a crucial 119-run partnership with Jahangir. Middle-order batters like Kyle Mayers and Heinrich Klaasen need to contribute more regularly if the team wants to build long-term consistency.
Their bowling unit is led by Waqar Salamkheil , who took 2 wickets in the last game , and spinner Harmeet Singh , who kept things tight with an economy of 4.25 .
The Orcas showed they can handle pressure and execute under lights — but maintaining that momentum will be key here.
With confidence rising and big-match experience fresh, Seattle will aim to repeat history and take revenge for their earlier loss to SFU.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Unicorns | Still unbeaten this season; deeper batting lineup with Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Xavier Bartlett in excellent form. Bowlers like Haris Rauf and Bartlett provide variety and control. Seattle have improved but remain inconsistent; their bowlers lack penetration compared to SFU’s attack. While Orcas can chase anything, their batting isn’t as balanced. Historical head-to-head data favors SFU, who beat SOR comprehensively in their previous meeting. With better all-round depth and leadership, Unicorns start as slight favorites despite their first loss last game. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Short (c) | Batter / Captain | SFU | Top scorer recently; ideal fantasy captain choice. |
| Shimron Hetmyer (vc) | Batter / Vice-Captain | SOR | Finisher with destructive hitting; scored 64* off 26 balls in last match. |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Batter | SFU | Aggressive middle-order batter; rotates strike well and averages above 30. |
| Shayan Jahangir | Wicketkeeper | SOR | Safe behind the stumps; contributes consistently with the bat. |
| Aaron Jones | Batter | SOR | Impact player; scored 73 off 38 balls in last match. |
| Xavier Bartlett | Bowler | SFU | Took 4 wickets in last match; economical and effective in crunch moments. |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder | SFU | Valuable contributions with bat and ball; ideal for fantasy points. |
| Waqar Salamkheil | Bowler | SOR | Star pacer; takes early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Haris Rauf | Bowler | SFU | Experienced pacer; capable of picking early wickets. |
| Sikandar Raza | Batter / Captain | SOR | Anchor of the innings; rotates strike well and leads from the front. |
| Harmeet Singh | Bowler | SOR | Economical spinner; breaks partnerships and keeps it tight. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Matthew Short (SFU) – In-form batter; likely to anchor the innings.
- Vice-Captain : Shimron Hetmyer (SOR) – Explosive finisher; high upside in fantasy leagues.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- Finn Allen (SFU) – Struggled to make impact recently; inconsistent performance.
- Klaasen (SOR) – Lacks big scores or impactful bowling; minimal fantasy value.
Squads
San Francisco Unicorns Squad
- Matthew Short (c)
- Finn Allen
- Tim Seifert (wk)
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi
- Hassan Khan
- Romario Shepherd
- Xavier Bartlett
- Haris Rauf
- Liam Plunkett
- Brody Couch
- Jahmar Hamilton (wk)
Seattle Orcas Squad
- Sikandar Raza (c)
- Shayan Jahangir (wk)
- Josh Brown
- Aaron Jones
- Kyle Mayers
- Heinrich Klaasen
- Ayan Desai
- Waqar Salamkheil
- Harmeet Singh
- Jasdeep Singh
- Akeal Hosein
- Cooper Connolly
Probable Playing XI
| San Francisco Unicorns | Seattle Orcas |
|---|---|
| Matthew Short (c) | Shayan Jahangir (wk) |
| Finn Allen | Josh Brown |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Aaron Jones |
| Hassan Khan | Kyle Mayers |
| Romario Shepherd | Heinrich Klaasen |
| Xavier Bartlett | Sikandar Raza (c) |
| Jahmar Hamilton (wk) | Shimron Hetmyer |
| Haris Rauf | Waqar Salamkheil |
| Brody Couch | Harmeet Singh |
| Nandre Burger | Jasdeep Singh |
| Liam Plunkett | Ayan Desai |
(Note: Final XI may vary based on toss and pitch conditions)
Pitch Report
- Venue : Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill
- Average First Innings Score : ~146
- Highest Score : 238/3
- Nature of Pitch : Batting-friendly surface with some assistance for spinners. Pacers get movement early but struggle once the ball gets older.
- Expected Target : 160–180 should be competitive.
- Fielding Advantage : Chasing teams benefit from dew and slower pitch later in the evening.
Toss Prediction
- Likely Outcome : Even chance for either side to win the toss.
- Decision : Bat first. Historical data shows batting becomes trickier after dew sets in; safer to post a score first.
Winner Prediction
San Francisco Unicorns are our predicted winners of this MLC 2025 encounter. They come into the match with a perfect record before this game , a strong batting lineup , and a more experienced bowling attack featuring Haris Rauf and Xavier Bartlett .
Seattle Orcas , although improving fast, remain inconsistent — especially with their top-order struggles and unreliable death bowling .
While Hetmyer and Jones give them a fighting chance, SFU’s balance and depth make them firm favorites in this must-win clash.
Back San Francisco Unicorns to bounce back and return to winning ways in this exciting matchup.
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