Haris rauf blazes with 4 wickets as SFU cruise to playoffs with sixth straight win

@Teammates congratulate Haris Rauf after he takes a wicket vs SO MLC2025

Match Summary

• San Francisco Unicorns won the toss and started the batting, scoring 176 runs in their allotted 20 overs with 8 wickets gobbled up.

• Seattle Orcas followed 177 and was bowled out on 144 after 18.2 overs

• Margine of victory: Unicorns by 32 runs
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Unicorns Innings- Momentum and power led to its construction:

Early Setback:

• Finn Allen got out cheaply in the second over, Gerald Coetzee getting his wicket in the second over and giving just 4 runs.

Stabilizing Partnership:

• Jake Fraser‑McGurk (34 off 21) and Matthew Short (52 off 29) as captain, then added a crucial 68-run partnership and got the side off to a good start

• The innings by Short was beautiful with 7 fours and 2 sixes and the strike rate is 179.31

Middle‑Order Collapse:

• Once going past the score 86/1, wickets were falling at a pace: Sanjay Krishnamurthy, Hassan Khan among others came to the pavilion by 103/6

Decisive Finish:

• Romario Shepherd hit 56 off 31 balls with four fours and four sixes to end at a strike rate of more than 180

• Gerald Coetzee also made an economical contribution of the bowling with Shepherd carrying out some late pyrotechnics to take Unicorns to a commanding 176/8

Orcas Chase: Flickers of promise, however, no consistency

Aggressive Start:

• The Orcas received a glowing start by Shayan Jahangir who scored 40 off 22 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes to score 29 in the first two overs

Key Breakthroughs:

• In the seventh over Jahangir was caught by Shepherd, and the situation was changed.

• Short removed David Warner and Kyle Mayers one after the other and ended the momentum of Orcas

Late Middle Order Battling:

• Shimron Hetmyer (30 off 16) tried to pick up the pieces but wickets were lost at a steady rate

• Too many collapses deprived the team of any significant impetus, and the team was stuck at 144 all out in 18.2 overs 

Bowling Highlights:The Unicorns Attack on Show:

• Haris Rauf was the star with 4-32 in a quota of 4 overs that include important scalps of Klaasen, Hetmyer, Coetzee, and Gannon

• Matthew Short took 3/12 and offered his assistance in the middle of the innings when Orcas were on the brink of stabilising the game

• Romario Shepherd took 2 wickets with 16 runs in 3 overs, where Orcas were shattered at first

• Gerald Coetzee claimed 3/34 to ensure that the Orcas did not get away early on

       All in all Unicorns bowlers sucked pressure and picked up wickets when it         mattered . Sensation Shift & Strategic Expertise:

• Tension When Using Wickets: The game was played over momentum. The aggressive beginning of Orcas was successful but the fall of Jahangir in 7 th over broke the momentum.

• Spin and Pace Mix: The spin offered by Short served as the controlling influence, Raufs express pace offered the holes and Coetzee maintained the pressure.

• Late Hitting Decision Maker: The strike of Shepherd death in death overs meant Unicorns had something defensive to post.

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Key Performers:

• Romario Shepherd (SJ): 56 off 31 and 2/16 (POTM): spun the game with his bat and aided with the ball

• Matthew Short (C & All‑rounder) –  Top-scored with 52 off 29 and 3/12 .
• Haris Rauf (Bowling Dynamo) - His 4/32 came at the right times .

• Shayan Jahangir (Orcas) - was the only early action as he resisted 40 off 22

Tactical Takeaways:

• Composure of unicorns: They showed their experience and leadership after a failed beginning when they managed to re-form teams through alliances.

• The depth of bowling attack: The ability to perform varied pace and spin contributed to Unicorns adapting as it was run-chasing in depth.

• The unreliability of orcas: Although promising to begin with, their middle-order struggled to form partnerships on pressure.

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Standings & Tournament Effect:

• San Francisco Unicorns have beaten no one (6-0) and officially made it to playoffs topping the MLC standings

• Seattle Orcas are in their worst run, this is the fifth consecutive loss and they are at the bottom of the table with no wins, and they hang by the thread

They are reduced in their playoffs acceleration; now they will depend on the results and the victories. What’s Next?

• Unicorns: Having qualified, they will be able to get ahead by on the            workload before the impending fixtures. Up next: LA Knight Riders vs Washington freedom on June 27

• Orcas: It is piling the pressure as they seek a maiden MLC victory. The sooner they can collective together and stabilize the batting the better or they are out of the game .

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Conclusion:

The Unicorns were brilliant in carrying out their operations on every front-top-order resilience, middle-order firepower and cutting-edge bowling. Shepherd and Short demonstrated why MLC leagues respect all-rounders that can bring the goods with their bat and ball. Any possibility of a pursuit had been closed by the speed of Rauf. But on the other side, the Orcas must be able to bring consistency and strength particularly in the middle overs to prevent another winless season.

Captain flair:

Matthew short described his reaction after this match: it was amazing to win! What a team spirit! The experience of qualifying first feels good… we have played to our strengths.”

Brief Scores :

San Francisco Unicorns Innings: 176/8 (20 Overs) Romario Shepherd 56 off 31 balls (4 Fours & 4 Sixes), Matthew Short 52 off 29 Balls (7 Fours & 2 Sixes)

Settle Orcas Bowling: Gerald Coetzee 3/34 (4 Overs), Harmeet Singh 3/22 (4 Overs)

Settle Orcas Innings: 144/10 (18.2 Overs) Shayan Jahangir 40 off 22 Balls (3 Fours & 3 Sixes), shimron Hetmyer 30 off 16 Balls (3 Fours & 1 Six)

San Francisco Unicorns Bowling:  Matthew Short 3/12 (4 Overs) Haris Rauf 3/32 (4 Overs)

Player of the Match: Romario Shepherd

Result: San Francisco Unicorns Won by 32 Runs