SFU VS LAKR MATCH 4

Right then, that is it from this one-sided affair where San Francisco Unicorns start their tournament with a win while Los Angeles Knight Riders suffer a defeat after a win in their opening game. Next up in the MLC 2024 is a battle between Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings. That game will be played on 9th July, Tuesday at 1 am IST (7.30 pm GMT, the previous day), but as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Corey Anderson, the victorious skipper of San Francisco Unicorns says that it was nice to sit and watch Short and Allen take the game away from the opponents. Adds that the boundaries are not that long and the ball travels here with no moisture on the wicket as well. Mentions that the good thing for them is that they have some really aggressive players up top and you have to give them freedom to express themselves freely. Praises the bowlers for their efforts and says that Rauf is just world class while Brody Couch has been excellent for them as well. Ends by saying that whenever the domestic players step up, it is always good for the team.

Sunil Narine, the captain of Los Angeles Knight Riders feels they fell 15-20 runs short. Says they knew that they needed early wickets while defending that par total. Says they got 160 plus in two consecutive games and feels they aren't far away from a big score. He appreciates the opposition batters and says they came out all aggressive and they didn't have any answers to that. Also reckons that they could've bowled well. Says he backs whatever decision he takes, and adds that sometimes it doesn't work out likewise in this game.

Finn Allen is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his smashing knock. He says that it took a bit long to get used to the wicket but they will keep that in mind when they come back here. Adds that he and Jake Fraser-McGurk wanted to go hard right from the start. Says that Matthew Short batted well and took the pressure of him and he is happy with the win.

Presentation Time...

Matthew Short, one of the star batters for San Francisco Unicorns is up for a flash interview. He says it is good to start the campaign with a win. He adds he was trying to play his natural game and just to keep his aggressive nature. Says that they have a nerve-wracking batting unit with Jake Fraser-McGurk and Finn Allen at the top. Further tells they need to keep playing positive cricket and stick to the natural game. Says that the guys have been throughout the world and they love playing together. Mentions that they joke around in the dressing room about who can hit the longest six and say they are enjoying their time. Mentions it is hard to read the pitches there and they were happy with 165 on the board. He appreciates the bowlers for restricting the batters at the backend of the first inning. Wraps up by saying you want to start the tournament with a win in a seven-match competition and carry forward the positive momentum.

Earlier in the game, Los Angeles Knight Riders posted a decent total on the board with a good knock from Jason Roy at the top while Dre Russ played a fiery knock towards the end. The bowling was really good from San Francisco Unicorns with Brody Couch and Haris Rauf getting a couple of wickets each while Abrar Ahmed and Liam Plunkett chipped in with one each. While chasing, it was really the Allen-Short show, and that huge partnership between them completely took the game away from the Knight Riders.

Los Angeles Knight Riders, on the other hand, will be very disappointed with their bowling effort here. They defended a similar target in their first game but here, they looked out of ideas and did not create that many opportunities as well. The fielding was also not up to standards and Ali Khan also dropped a chance that may have given them a chance to get back in the game. However, to be fair to them, the way Finn Allen and Matthew Short played, it would have been really hard for any bowler to stop them. Sunil Narine did manage to send Short back to the hut while Spencer Johnson ended up with three wickets, with one coming in the Powerplay, but unfortunately, it came in a losing cause.

San Francisco Unicorns got off to a shaky start as the openers were swinging for everything. Jake Fraser-McGurk lost his wicket in that process but that proved to be a blessing in disguise for them. Matthew Short joined Finn Allen in the middle and then the duo started their onslaught as the ball kept on flying over the fence. It looked like they were competing who would hit more sixes. They just continued to smash it all around the park and notched up their respective fifties as well, adding over 100 runs for the second wicket. They put their team in a commanding position before getting out in quick succession. However, Corey Anderson and Josh Inglis kept their calm and got them closer to the target, but the latter couldn't stick around till the end. The skipper stayed till the end and they got over the line with more than four overs left in the chase.

San Francisco Unicorns starts their 2024 MLC campaign with an emphatic victory! They have completely outplayed the Los Angeles Knight Riders in all three departments and were in control of the game right from when they sent their opponents to bat. The bowling was tight and they kept picking up wickets at regular intervals, while the batting was absolutely out of this world. Knight Riders fail to get back-to-back wins and have taken a big hit on their NRR as well.

Done and dusted! The Men in Orange take it! San Francisco Unicorns win by 6 wickets! Ali Khan bends his back and bangs it into the pitch on a short length, on the top of the middle and off, Hassan Khan swivels for a pull but the ball goes beating the bat as it takes off further from the surface. It beats Unmukt Chand who leaps in the air and the batters cross for a bye. A clinical performance by the Unicorns in all departments. They initiate their campaign with a solid dominating win over the Knight Riders with 28 balls to spare.

Ali Khan delivers a back of a length ball, on off, Hassan Khan hops back and solidly defends back to the bowler.

SCORES LEVEL! Hits the deck hard, from over the wickets and on the fourth stump line. Hassan Khan sways away a bit and dabs it delicately down to deep third for a single.

WIDE! Sprays it down the leg side on the back of a length. Hassan Khan fails to connect the pull. Wide given. Just a couple of runs needed then.

Cannons a fuller-length delivery on the leg stump line. Corey Anderson moves to the leg side and swats it down to long on for a single. Just 3 needed to win now.

Second bounce of the over signals the umpire! Short and outside off. Corey Anderson arches back and sees the ball go through to the keeper.

Overpitched, outside off, Hassan Khan drives it to deep covers for one.