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San Francisco Unicorns Clinch Final-Ball Thriller to Break Losing Streak Against Texas Super Kings
Short’s 80 and Death-Bowling Brilliance Guide Unicorns to One-Run Win in Lauderhill
The San Francisco Unicorns snapped their losing streak in spectacular fashion with a dramatic 1-run victory over the Texas Super Kings at Lauderhill, Florida. In a nail-biting contest that went down to the final ball, Xavier Bartlett’s composure in the last over and Matthew Short’s commanding half-century ensured the Unicorns successfully defended a modest total of 148/6, keeping their playoff hopes alive in the ongoing tournament.
Matthew Short Lays Foundation With Resilient 80
From Collapse to Comeback: Short Leads the Charge
After being reduced to 25/3 in the powerplay, the Unicorns appeared to be in deep trouble. However, Matthew Short stood firm and orchestrated a superb recovery, anchoring the innings with a measured 80 off 63 balls. His innings featured a blend of strike rotation and timely boundaries on a challenging surface.
Short received much-needed support from Hassan Khan, who played a valuable cameo of 40 from 25 deliveries, injecting momentum in the latter half of the innings. Together, they ensured San Francisco crossed the 140-run mark, finishing at 148/6 in 20 overs.
Super Kings’ Bowling: Early Promise, Late Struggles
While Akeal Hosein was economical and incisive early on, picking up a wicket and drying up the runs, the rest of the Super Kings’ bowling unit couldn’t maintain the pressure. Short in particular targeted the lesser-experienced bowlers and took advantage of the gaps in the field.
Marcus Stoinis was the pick of the Super Kings’ bowlers with 3 for 32, striking at crucial moments, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a competitive total from being posted.
Texas Super Kings Falter Despite Ferreira’s Heroics
Couch Strikes Early to Derail the Chase
Chasing 149, Texas got off to a sluggish start, losing both openers cheaply to Brody Couch, who bowled with rhythm and sharp movement, finishing with 2 for 26. This early blow disrupted their momentum and pushed them into rebuild mode.
Marcus Stoinis and Saiteja Mukkamalla tried to consolidate with a slow but steady partnership. However, the asking rate climbed with every over as the Unicorns’ bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs.
Ferreira’s Fireworks Rekindle Hope
The match saw a twist when Donovan Ferreira entered the crease. He launched a stunning counter-attack, smashing 39 off just 20 balls, and suddenly brought Texas back into contention. His knock was filled with power and intent, reducing the target to 23 off 12 balls.
But in the penultimate over, Romario Shepherd turned the game again by dismissing Ferreira and Shubham Ranjane in the space of three balls, leaving Super Kings needing 13 off the final over.
Final Over Drama: Unicorns Survive Nerve-Wracking Finish
Bartlett’s Precision Seals the Win
With 13 required off the final six balls, Mohammad Mohsin kept Texas in the chase by finding two vital boundaries. However, Xavier Bartlett showed ice-cold nerves, executing his plans with accuracy and changing angles smartly to restrict scoring opportunities.
The game came down to 3 runs off the final delivery. In a desperate bid to secure a win, Calvin Savage attempted a risky second run but was run out at the keeper’s end — handing the Unicorns a thrilling 1-run win.
Match Summary and Scorecard
San Francisco Unicorns: 148/6 in 20 overs
(Matthew Short 80, Hassan Khan 40; Marcus Stoinis 3-32, Akeal Hosein 1-21)
Texas Super Kings: 147/7 in 20 overs
(Donovan Ferreira 39, Marcus Stoinis 23; Brody Couch 2-26, Romario Shepherd 2-26)
Result: San Francisco Unicorns won by 1 run
Full Match Details – ESPNcricinfo
