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Match 19 of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 brings a blockbuster clash between the top two teams in the standings : San Francisco Unicorns , sitting at the top with six consecutive wins, and Washington Freedom , who are just behind them with five wins from six games.
The match will be played at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas , known for its batting-friendly conditions. With both teams in excellent form and head-to-head record evenly split, this promises to be a high-stakes battle that could define their MLC campaigns.
Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Washington Freedom vs San Francisco Unicorns |
| Date | 29 June 2025 |
| Venue | Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas |
| Time | 1:30 AM IST |
| Competition | Major League Cricket (MLC), Season 2025 |
Team Previews
Washington Freedom Preview
Washington Freedom have had a strong start to MLC 2025 , winning five out of six matches and sitting second in the points table. Their consistency has come from a balanced lineup that performs under pressure.
Mitchell Owen leads the run charts with an incredible strike rate of 212 , scoring 288 runs in six innings . He’s been supported by Matthew Short , who has hit back-to-back fifties and looks settled as opener. Jake Fraser-McGurk adds aggression with his 189 strike rate , while Romario Shepherd and Glenn Maxwell provide firepower in the middle order.
In bowling, Haris Rauf is the star performer with 16 wickets at an economy of just over 9 . His pace and control make him one of the most feared bowlers in the tournament.
Ian Holland and Jack Edwards offer support with the ball, having picked up crucial wickets in tight situations. Xavier Bartlett and Hassan Khan also bring variety and experience to the attack.
Freedom’s strength lies in their batting depth and death-over hitting , which makes them dangerous even when chasing high totals. They’ll look to bounce back after a heavy defeat against SFU earlier in the season.
San Francisco Unicorns Preview
San Francisco Unicorns have started MLC 2025 on fire , winning all six of their matches so far and comfortably sitting at the top of the standings. Their aggressive batting and disciplined bowling have made them a force to reckon with.
Captain Glenn Maxwell leads from the front and has scored 227 runs in five matches , often coming in during the middle overs to stabilize or accelerate the innings. Opener Mitchell Owen has been unstoppable, smashing 298 runs at a strike rate of 247 , including blistering starts that set the tone.
Rachin Ravindra and Finn Allen add depth and flair, while Andries Gous provides valuable finishing touches down the order. The batting unit has been relentless, especially at home where they posted 246/4 — the highest total of the tournament.
Their bowling is led by Haris Rauf and Saurabh Netravalkar , though Jack Edwards and Ian Holland have chipped in with regular breakthroughs. The presence of Romario Shepherd , who contributes with bat and ball, gives them balance.
Unicorns are not only the only unbeaten team in the league , but they’ve also defeated Freedom in their previous meeting , making them slight favorites going into this high-pressure contest.
Favourite Team to Win Today’s Match
| Favourite Team | Reason |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Unicorns | Sitting atop the table with six straight wins; stronger batting depth with Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Maxwell. More consistent bowling led by Haris Rauf and Romario Shepherd. Washington Freedom lost to SFU in their previous encounter and need to break the trend. While Freedom have talent, Unicorns’ unbeaten record, superior batting line-up, and better death bowling give them the edge. In a pitch that supports strokeplay, SFU’s explosive batting and experienced finishers make them firm favorites in this top-of-the-table clash. |
Fantasy Team XI (with Explanation)
| Player Name | Role | Team | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Owen (vc) | Batter / Vice-Captain | SFU | Top scorer in tournament; explosive opener and fantasy favorite. |
| Glenn Maxwell (c) | Batter / Captain | WAF | Impact player with bat and ball; ideal for late-innings acceleration. |
| Romario Shepherd | All-rounder | SFU | Dependable middle-order batter; contributes with both bat and ball. |
| Matthew Short | Batter | WAF | Aggressive opener; takes the game deep and rotates strike well. |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Batter | WAF | Finisher; useful for late-innings punch and quick runs. |
| Haris Rauf | Bowler | SFU | Star pacer; takes early wickets and maintains pressure. |
| Andries Gous | Batter / Wicketkeeper | SFU | Anchor of the innings; safe behind the stumps and effective striker. |
| Saurabh Netravalkar | Bowler | SFU | Smart spinner; breaks partnerships and keeps it tight. |
| Ian Holland | Bowler | WAF | Economical bowler; took key wickets in last game. |
| D Balaji (WAF) | Bowler | WAF | Useful death bowler; capable of picking late wickets. |
| Rachin Ravindra | Batter | SFU | Finisher; ideal for late-innings acceleration and chase stability. |
Captain & Vice-Captain Suggestions
- Captain : Glenn Maxwell (WAF) – Game-changer with bat and ball; leadership role boosts fantasy value.
- Vice-Captain : Mitchell Owen (SFU) – Explosive striker of the ball and high upside.
Players to Avoid in Fantasy Teams
- P Bhuvaneswaran (WAF) – Lacks impact recently; inconsistent performance.
- Brody Couch (WAF) – Struggles to contribute meaningfully with bat or ball.
Squads
Washington Freedom Squad
- Matthew Short (c)
- Finn Allen
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi
- Romario Shepherd
- Hassan Khan
- Jahmar Hamilton (wk)
- Xavier Bartlett
- Haris Rauf
- Carmi le Roux
- Brody Couch
- Ian Holland
- Jack Edwards
- Saurabh Netravalkar
- Mukhtar Ahmed
- Obus Pienaar
San Francisco Unicorns Squad
- Glenn Maxwell (c)
- Mitchell Owen
- Rachin Ravindra
- Andries Gous (wk)
- Glenn Phillips
- Jack Edwards
- Obus Pienaar
- Mukhtar Ahmed
- Ian Holland
- Saurabh Netravalkar
- Mark Adair
- Cooper Connolly
- Tim Seifert
- Xavier Bartlett
- Haris Rauf
- Hassan Khan
- Juanoy Drysdale
Probable Playing XI
| Washington Freedom | San Francisco Unicorns |
|---|---|
| Matthew Short (c) | Mitchell Owen |
| Finn Allen | Rachin Ravindra |
| Jake Fraser-McGurk | Andries Gous (wk) |
| Sanjay Krishnamurthi | Glenn Phillips |
| Romario Shepherd | Glenn Maxwell (c) |
| Hassan Khan | Jack Edwards |
| Jahmar Hamilton (wk) | Obus Pienaar |
| Xavier Bartlett | Mukhtar Ahmed |
| Haris Rauf | Ian Holland |
| Carmi le Roux | Saurabh Netravalkar |
| Brody Couch | Mark Adair |
Pitch Report
- Venue : Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas
- Average First Innings Score : ~175
- Highest Score : 246/4 (by SFU vs MI New York)
- Nature of Pitch : Batting-friendly surface; true bounce and flat deck help strokeplay. Pacers rely on cutters and slower balls.
- Expected Target : 200–210 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 teams batting first have won comfortably here.
Winner Prediction
San Francisco Unicorns are our predicted winners of this MLC 2025 encounter. They remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament , with a stronger batting lineup , led by Mitchell Owen and Rachin Ravindra , and a more disciplined bowling attack featuring Haris Rauf and Saurabh Netravalkar .
While Washington Freedom have shown great adaptability and power-hitting ability, they were crushed by 123 runs in their previous meeting. Despite being close competitors on paper, SFU’s consistency and momentum give them the upper hand.
Back San Francisco Unicorns to continue their dominance and extend their winning streak in this must-watch MLC clash.
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