- June 16, 2025
If you thought that the San Francisco Unicorns’ first win of MLC 2025 on Sunday was a flash in the pan, then think again! With a red-hot, 38-ball 88 from Jake Fraser-McGurk and a four-wicket haul from Xavier Bartlett, the Unicorns steered to their second straight win and were winners by 32 runs over the LA Knight Riders. This is more than a win — it’s a statement — these guys mean business. Let’s have a look at how Fraser-McGurk’s fireworks and Bartlett’s bowling spin-to-win put together a second commanding performance for the Unicorns.
Jake Fraser-McGurk: The Firestarter Who Lit Up California
It didn’t take Fraser-McGurk long to get everyone to remember exactly why he is one of the most exciting young batsmen in the game when he smashed a brilliant and innovative 88 off 38 balls, providing the heartbeat of the Unicorns’ innings. What was breathtaking was not only the quantity of runs off such few balls, but also the timing and intent behind every shot. Right from the start, he played every shot like he was a man on a mission.
Fraser-McGurk had the unicorn role Finn Allen beside him, himself not out at 52, while he and Fraser-McGurk established control between them against the Knight Riders bowlers. Together, the two put up 121 runs off just 54 balls for the Unicorns as a combination of raw aggression and proper cricketing shots, and this attitude articulated the tone of the innings, which the Knight Riders were unable to match. Talk about carnage. Who bludgeons four-sixes in one over of Shadley van Schalkwyk?? That is a feat to stay!!
Xavier Bartlett: The Game-Changer with the Ball
While Fraser-McGurk was smashing the ball around, Bartlett was bowling like an assassin and simply terrorizing the entire LAKR batting lineup. This type of disciplined and aggressive bowling, in which he got four wickets – 4 for 28 – is exactly what every captain dreams of. Bartlett was able to grab crucial early blows and then build on that pressure through the mid innings and stamp out any momentum for the Knight Riders.
It is customary, in T20 cricket, for matches to be won or lost in the middle overs. Together with Haris Rauf, who also grabbed four wickets, Bartlett maintained a stranglehold on the game for the Unicorns. Accordingly, they strangled LAKR’s run rate, making the necessary chase look impossible, now made even more difficult by a couple of decent contributions, specifically at 53 from 32 balls, by Unmukt Chand.
Why This Win Means More Than Just Two in a Row
It’s easy to be swept away in a flurry of consecutive victories, but the way the Unicorns did it should be acknowledged as something special. This was a complete performance — boundary hitting, athletic fielding (along with some excellent bowling spells), and a willingness to commit to good team play. They showed some fight too, losing an early wicket, and coming back hard and fast.
In front of a potent LAKR side with experienced campaigners such as Andre Fletcher and Alex Hales, the Unicorns didn’t just win, they annihilated them. These kinds of total victories are precisely what breeds confidence and good momentum early in a tournament. If they continue to perform like this, the Unicorns are beginning to show they could be a contender in MLC 2025.
With a youthful exuberance and clever cricket tactics, the San Francisco Unicorns are causing a stir in this tournament. Fraser-McGurk’s pyrotechnics and Bartlett’s match-winning spells are a reflection of the space and movement within this squad. The question now is can they keep building this momentum and stay on top?
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