San Francisco Unicorns clinched a thrilling 3-wicket victory against MI New York, thanks to a spectacular batting display by Xavier Bartlett and Hassan Khan. Bartlett’s explosive unbeaten 59 from just 25 balls guided the Unicorns home with five balls remaining, chasing down a target of 183 after a shaky start.
MI New York’s Innings Overview
MI New York was asked to bat first, posting a competitive total of 182/7 in their 20 overs. South African opener Quinton de Kock provided stability at the top with a blistering 63 off 38 balls, laying a solid foundation despite minimal support from teammates Agni Chopra, Monank Patel, and Nicholas Pooran.
Captain Kieron Pollard accelerated the innings, smashing four boundaries in the 16th over against Hassan Khan. Sunny Patel further contributed with quick runs late in the innings, ensuring MINY set a challenging total despite Haris Rauf’s economical bowling figures of 2/24.
Unicorns’ Rocky Start in the Chase
San Francisco Unicorns began their chase aggressively, with Finn Allen hitting Trent Boult for two sixes in the first over. However, Naveen-ul-Haq struck back immediately, dismissing Allen in the second over. Unicorns faced a rapid collapse, slipping to 42/4 by the end of the powerplay, losing Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and Cooper Connolly cheaply.
Hassan Khan Sparks Recovery
Amid the collapse, Hassan Khan provided vital momentum with an explosive 43 off just 17 balls, hitting five powerful sixes. His 64-run partnership with Tim Seifert revived the Unicorns’ chase, although both batters eventually departed, placing the game back in the balance.
Xavier Bartlett Turns the Match
Corey Anderson struggled briefly, scoring only 9 off 13 balls, but Xavier Bartlett seized control. Bartlett launched a fierce assault, particularly devastating Michael Bracewell with a 25-run over. He continued the onslaught against Trent Boult, adding 16 more runs in the 17th over. Bartlett fittingly sealed the win with a towering six off Pollard, ensuring a third consecutive win for Unicorns.
Match Summary:
- MI New York: 182/7 (20 overs)
- Quinton de Kock: 63 runs (38 balls)
- Kieron Pollard: 30 runs (brief cameo)
- Haris Rauf: 2/24, Hassan Khan: 2/54
- San Francisco Unicorns: 188/7 (19.1 overs)
- Xavier Bartlett: 59* runs (25 balls)
- Hassan Khan: 43 runs (17 balls)
- Naveen ul-Haq: 2/28, Ehsan Adil: 2/43
