By Tim Douglas 
San Francisco Unicorns continued their dominant form in the 2025 Major League Cricket season, overpowering Texas Super Kings by seven wickets in a high-octane encounter at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas.
Despite a spectacular century from Faf du Plessis, the Unicorns chased down a steep target of 199 with remarkable ease, courtesy of a devastating opening stand between Finn Allen and stand-in captain Matthew Short. Their explosive 117-run partnership in just 8.3 overs turned the match decisively in favor of the visitors.
Short, leading in the absence of Corey Anderson, wasted no time getting into gear. He set the tone with a fiery 61 off just 29 deliveries, dismantling the Kings’ attack early. Once Short departed, Allen took center stage, continuing his red-hot form with a blistering 78 off 38 balls, further solidifying his spot as the league’s leading run-scorer and all-time record holder.
The Unicorns’ fearless approach dismantled the Super Kings’ bowling strategy. Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad bore the brunt, conceding 50 runs in four overs, as the Unicorns chased the total down with 23 balls to spare. Jake Fraser-McGurk added a quick-fire 37 to close out the match in style.
Earlier in the day, the Unicorns had elected to bowl first, putting the pressure on Texas Super Kings to set a competitive total. Du Plessis responded with a commanding innings, bringing up his century off just 51 deliveries, hitting 13 boundaries in the process. The former South African skipper looked in full control, sharing a 97-run stand with Devon Conway (23) and later getting support from young Sai Mukkamalla (38 off 24).
However, just when Texas appeared on course for a 200-plus total, Haris Rauf (2/34) and Xavier Bartlett (2/31) pegged them back with late breakthroughs. Their disciplined death bowling ensured the Super Kings fell just short of a psychological milestone, closing at 198/5.
In reply, the Unicorns came out blazing, never allowing the bowlers to settle. Their third consecutive win sends a strong message to the rest of the league, placing them firmly at the top of the standings and making them the team to beat in MLC 2025.
The Texas Super Kings, meanwhile, will aim to regroup quickly ahead of their home clash against Washington Freedom on Sunday. As for the Unicorns, they’ll look to maintain their momentum when they face MI New York on Monday in what promises to be another marquee showdown.
Match Summary:
Texas Super Kings: 198/5 (Faf du Plessis 100, Mukkamalla 38; Bartlett 2/31, Rauf 2/34)
San Francisco Unicorns: 202/3 (Finn Allen 78, Matthew Short 61, Fraser-McGurk 37; Milne 1/24)
Result: San Francisco Unicorns won by 7 wickets (23 balls remaining)
Zainab Shafiq