Cricket Prediction | SF vs LAKR | Major League Cricket 2025 | 3rd Match | June 14 – Is This the Knights’ Night?

SF vs LAKR Match Analysis

MLC 2025’s third fixture will be held at Oakland’s Great Park Cricket Stadium on June 14. The clash between San Francisco Unicorns and Los Angeles Knight Riders is expected to be a high-octane encounter. The match will begin at 7:30 PM local time under the lights.

The San Francisco Unicorns are known for their aggressive brand of cricket and overseas firepower. With explosive talents and experience across departments, the Unicorns have become one of the most entertaining sides in the MLC. 

Los Angeles Knight Riders enter the 2025 season with a revamped unit and plenty of Caribbean flair. In Narine’s kingdom, every player’s a triple threat—bat, ball, and brilliance all bundled in one package.

San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders Team Preview & Squads

San Francisco Unicorns

Corey Anderson leads the SF with the perfect blend of international experience and leadership instincts. A powerful left-handed batter and handy medium pacer, Anderson is a natural T20 leader. 

SF boasts a batting lineup filled with international quality. Their top order packs a punch, featuring the destructive talents of Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, and Tim Seifert. The presence of Anderson, Cooper Connolly, and Hammad Azam adds reliability in the middle.

In the bowling department, San Francisco is well-stocked with pace and spin options. Haris Rauf and Xavier Bartlett bring searing pace, while Liam Plunkett adds experience. Hassan Khan, Karima Gore, and Sanjay Krishnamurthi offer spinning choices depending on conditions.

In their last match of the 2024 MLC season, the Unicorns were outplayed by Washington Freedom in the final. Washington posted 207/5, riding on a powerful display of batting. In reply, San Francisco Unicorns collapsed for just 111 in 16 overs, falling short by a massive 96 runs. 

San Francisco Unicorns Squad

San Francisco Unicorns

Corey Anderson (C), Finn Allen, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Brody Couch, Juanoy Drysdale, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Karima Gore, Hammad Azam, Haris Rauf, Hassan Khan, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Carmi le Roux, Liam Plunkett, Tim Seifert (WK), Romario Shepherd, Matthew Short, Callum Stow

Los Angeles Knight Riders

Bringing a rich history of T20 success worldwide, Sunil Narine leads the LAKR with confidence. A wily spinner and explosive pinch-hitter, Narine offers impact on both fronts. His cool demeanor and tactical nous make him a standout leader.

The LAKR have one of the deepest batting lineups in the league. With Alex Hales and Andre Fletcher providing thunder at the top, and the likes of Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, and Sherfane Rutherford in the middle, they are built to score big. Unmukt Chand and Nitish Kumar add local stability and experience.

LAKR boasts raw pace with fast bowlers Anrich Nortje, Spencer Johnson, and Ali Khan leading the charge. Sunil Narine and Tanveer Sangha add a dual spin threat. Jason Holder and Russell also offer vital overs with the ball to balance the side.

In their last outing of the 2024 season, the Knight Riders managed 130 against MI New York at Dallas. Despite a gritty bowling effort, New York chased the target down with 18 balls to spare. The loss highlighted LAKR’s struggle to post a competitive total and defend it. 

Los Angeles Knight Riders Squad

Los Angeles Knight Riders

Sunil Narine (C), Adithya Ganesh (WK), Ali Khan, Unmukt Chand, Corné Dry, Andre Fletcher, Karthik Gattepalli, Alex Hales, Jason Holder, Spencer Johnson, Nitish Kumar, Anrich Nortje, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford, Saif Badar, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Tromp, Shadley van Schalkwyk

SF vs LAKR Outfield Report

Oakland Coliseum, Oakland

The Oakland surface traditionally supports a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batsmen enjoy true bounce early on, but the spinners can extract grip as the game progresses. A score around 160–170 can be considered par on this surface.

The weather is expected to be clear and pleasant with temperatures hovering around 22°C (72°F). Humidity will be moderate, ensuring some swing for the seamers under lights. No rainfall is expected, so a full game is likely.

In previous MLC games at this venue, the highest score recorded batting first is around 185, while the lowest defendable total is about 135. Teams winning the toss often opt to bat first, aiming for a total around 170. Chasing under lights can be tricky if the spinners find some turn.

San Francisco Unicorns vs Los Angeles Knight Riders Head-to-Head Stats of Last 5 Matches

In the last five encounters between these two sides, the record has been evenly poised, with both teams sharing victories. 

SF vs LAKR Prediction

According to cricket analysts San Francisco Unicorns have a 52% chance of Winning.

Disclaimer: This cricket prediction is based on the author’s insights and analysis. Readers should consider the points discussed and draw their own conclusions.