By Tim Douglas 
Short’s Brilliance and Bowlers Seal Last-Ball Win for Unicorns in MLC 2025
In a contest brimming with drama and fine margins, the San Francisco Unicorns defended a modest 148 in breathtaking fashion, clinching a 1-run victory against the Texas Super Kings off the final ball. This thrilling win solidifies the Unicorns’ place at the top of the MLC 2025 table with 14 points.
Batting first on a tricky surface, the Unicorns stumbled early, losing three wickets in the powerplay. The scoreboard pressure was quickly absorbed by captain Matthew Short, whose leadership with the bat proved once again invaluable.
Short steadied the ship in partnership with Hassan Khan, who added a patient 40. Together, they stitched a 67-run stand to revive the innings. Short’s 80 off 58 balls was the glue that held the Unicorns together, especially on a surface offering variable bounce and aiding the slower bowlers.
Though Marcus Stoinis pegged back the middle overs with 3/32, and Akeal Hosein continued his dominant Powerplay form, the Unicorns closed at 148/6 — a total that looked competitive considering the conditions.
The Texas chase began with early nerves. Brody Couch made an immediate impact, removing Faf du Plessis and Smit Patel, exploiting the bounce in the surface. His efforts were well-supported by the Unicorns’ pace-spin blend, which stifled the Super Kings’ momentum through the middle overs.
Between the 6th and 15th overs, TSK could muster just 54 runs, with Karima Gore and Romario Shepherd tightening the noose. Still, Texas had a chance, thanks to Donovan Ferreira’s aggressive intent. Just when he looked to change the game, Shepherd dismissed both Ferreira and Shubham Ranjane in a double blow that shifted the momentum firmly back to San Francisco.
With 13 needed off the final over, and Haris Rauf injured, the pressure fell on Xavier Bartlett to close out the game. A couple of tense boundaries from Mohammad Mohsin narrowed the equation to 3 off 1. But Bartlett stayed composed, delivering a clutch final ball to seal the one-run win in a contest that will be remembered as one of the best in the season.
Match Summary:
SFU: 148/6 (Matthew Short 80, Hassan Khan 40; Marcus Stoinis 3/32)
TSK: 147/7 (Donovan Ferreira 39, Saiteja Mukkamalla 34; Brody Couch 2/26, Romario Shepherd 2/26)
Result: San Francisco Unicorns beat Texas Super Kings by 1 run
The Unicorns face Los Angeles Knight Riders in their next outing, while Texas look to bounce back quickly against Seattle Orcas tomorrow. The race for playoff positions just got even more intense.
Zainab Shafiq