Finn Allen & Matthew Short lead San Francisco Unicorns to six-wicket victory over LA Knight Riders

The San Francisco Unicorns secured a dominant six-wicket win over the LA Knight Riders in the fourth match of the 2024 Cognizant Major League Cricket, with 28 balls to spare.

Match Summary

San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders, Match 4

San Francisco Unicorns 166/4 (15.2 ov)

Los Angeles Knight Riders 165/6 (20 ov)

San Francisco Unicorns won by 6 wickets

SCORECARD  

Opting to bowl first at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, the Unicorns restricted the Knight Riders to 165/6, thanks to impressive bowling from debutant Broady Couch (2/24) and Harris Rauf (2/38). Half-centuries from Finn Allen (63) and Matthew Short (58) then powered the Unicorns to a swift and successful run chase.

The San Franciso Unicorns’ run chase saw Opener, Jake Fraser Mcgurk (9) fall early, caught behind  of Spencer Johnson’s bowling. However. Finn Allen looked eager to make a quick meal of the target. The right-handed opener smashed Andre Russel for two consecutive sixes in the fifth over, followed by three consecutive sixes of Shakib Al Hassan in the next over, to complete five maximums in just as many deliveries. At the end of the powerplay the Unicorns were firmly in the driver’s seat with a score of 67/1.  

Opener, Matthew Short switched gears following the powerplay, striking Corne Dry for two more sixes in the seventh over. In the eighth over, Fin Allen brought up his half-century in 23 deliveries, while Matthew Short continued to clear the ropes with ease, bringing up his half-century soon after in 23 balls too, comprising five sixes and three fours. 

When the colossal 116-run stand between Allen and Short was finally dented by Sunil Narine in the 12th over, the Unicorns were cruising to their target, needing only 29 runs in 48 balls. While Finn Allen became Spencer Johnson’s second wicket of the night in the 13th over, Josh Inglis (15), Corey Anderson (11), and Hassan Khan (2) helped the Unicorns reach their target in 15.2 overs. Spencer Johnson was the leading wicket taker for the LA Knight Riders with figures of 3/36.

Earlier in the day the San Francisco Unicorns bowlers did well to restrict the LA Knight Riders. By the end of the powerplay, LA Knight Riders were 42/2, having lost the wickets of Sunil Narine (6) and Unmukt Chand (0). Opener Jason Roy (26) looked threatening and cracked four boundaries in his 18-ball stint before he was cleaned up by Liam Plunkett in the seventh over. 

The experienced Shakib Al Hassan (35), and Nitish Kumar (20) came together to put on the biggest partnership of the innings. The pair put on 45 runs in 31 deliveries in the middle overs before Abrar Ahmed and Brody Couch dismissed the pair in consecutive overs. 

The dangerous David Miller (24) and the hard-hitting Andre Russell (40*) constructed a 34-run stand; however, David Miller was scalped by Haris Rauf in the 17th over, just as the LA Knight Riders looked to step on the accelerator. Russel’s 25-ball cameo comprising three sixes and two fours, concluded with 15 runs of Haris Rauf in the final over. 

Brief Scores: San Francisco Unicorns 166/4 in 15.2 overs (Finn Allen 63, Matthew Short 58, Spencer Johnson 3/36 beat LA Knight Riders 165/6 in 20 overs (Andre Russel 40*, Shakib Al Hassan 35, Jason Roy 26, Spencer Johnson 3/36)

Match Stats

Los Angeles Knight Riders Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Sunil Narine - 1.4 ov), 2-15 (Unmukt Chand - 2.6 ov), 3-44 (Jason Roy - 6.3 ov), 4-89 (Shakib Al Hasan - 11.4 ov), 5-96 (Nitish Kumar - 12.5 ov), 6-130 (David Miller - 16.5 ov)

San Francisco Unicorns Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Jake Fraser McGurk - 2.3 ov), 2-131 (Matthew Short - 11.1 ov), 3-137 (Finn Allen - 12.1 ov), 4-161 (Josh Inglis - 14.2 ov)

Playing XI

San Francisco Unicorns 

• Jake Fraser McGurk
• Finn Allen
• Josh Inglis(WK)
• Matthew Short
• Corey Anderson(C)
• Sanjay Krishnamurthi
• Brody Couch
• Hassan Khan
• Liam Plunkett
• Haris Rauf
• Abrar Ahmed

Los Angeles Knight Riders 

• Jason Roy
• Sunil Narine(C)
• Unmukt Chand(WK)
• Shakib Al Hasan
• Nitish Kumar
• David Miller
• Andre Russell
• Derone Davis
• Corne Dry
• Spencer Johnson
• Ali Khan

 

Match Details:

Date: Monday, July 8, 2024 01:30

Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Texas

Toss: San Francisco Unicorns elected to bowl