- July 2, 2025
SFU vs SO (22nd Match) – Highlights
In what turned out to be a cracker of a contest at Lauderhill, the Seattle Orcas pulled off a thrilling four-wicket win over the table-topping San Francisco Unicorns in the 22nd match of the Major League Cricket 2025 season.
The Unicorns galloped out of the gate with the bat, stacking up a spirited 168 for 5 before handing the reins to their bowlers. However, it wasn’t a smooth ride. Captain Matthew Short departed early for just 2 runs, falling to Harmeet Singh in the opening over. Finn Allen tried to give the innings some early momentum, smashing a brisk 23 off 15 before falling to young Ayan Desai. Jake Fraser-McGurk played a typically aggressive knock of 35 off 22 balls, but his promising stay ended when he top-edged one off Sikandar Raza.
The real stability in the innings came from Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who bludgeoned 41 off 28 balls, clearing the ropes four times. Alongside him, Tim Seifert held one end up with a rather subdued 31* off 37. The innings seemed to be slowing down before Romario Shepherd injected life at the death with a stunning cameo — 13 runs off just 3 deliveries, including two mighty sixes that helped lift San Francisco to 168.
Seattle’s chase was anything but straightforward. The early damage was done by Xavier Bartlett, who dismissed both Steven Taylor and Kyle Mayers for single digits. Karima Gore then bowled Shayan Jahangir for a well-made 36, and followed it up with a brilliant run-out to get rid of Captain Sikandar Raza. Trouble had teeth, and the Orcas were already knee-deep in it at 56 for 4, staring down a collapse like deer in headlights.
Enter Shimron Hetmyer. The left-hander looked like he was batting on a different pitch. From the moment he arrived, he dictated terms, threading gaps with precision and launching sixes with disdain. His clean ball striking dismantled the Unicorns’ bowling attack. While the innings crumbled like a biscuit in tea, Hetmyer crunched bowlers with the poise of a man reading poetry. He hammered seven sixes and four fours during his innings and was particularly severe on Romario Shepherd and Liam Plunkett.
Hetmyer found brief support from Aaron Jones (14 off 12) before finishing the job himself with help from Gerald Coetzee, who chipped in with a handy 7* off 5. Hetmyer didn’t just finish the game—he gift-wrapped it in the penultimate over and signed it with a Player of the Match signature.
For San Francisco, Bartlett’s two wickets and Couch’s economical spell were the bright spots, but their inability to contain Hetmyer proved costly. The loss dents their dominance, while Seattle’s comeback lifts them further up the points table and sends a clear message — underestimate them at your own peril.
San Francisco Unicorns vs Seattle Orcas Scoreboard
San Francisco Unicorns – 168/5 (20)
Seattle Orcas – 169/6 (19.3/20)
Result – Seattle won by 4 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Player of the Match – Shimron Hetmyer
Shimron Hetmyer
SFU vs SO Playing XIs
San Francisco Unicorns | Matthew Short (c), Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tim Seifert (wk), Hassan Khan, Romario Shepherd, Karima Gore, Xavier Bartlett, Brody Couch, Liam Plunkett |
Seattle Orcas | Shayan Jahangir (wk), Steven Taylor, Kyle Mayers, Sikandar Raza (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Heinrich Klaasen, Aaron Jones, Gerald Coetzee, Harmeet Singh, Waqar Salamkheil, Ayan Desai |
Disclaimer: These Match highlights reflect the author’s insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the points discussed and form their own conclusions.
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