High-scoring thriller sees LAKR deny SFU top-two spot

San Francisco Unicorns missed out on a top two spot in MLC 2025 in agonising fashion as they fell short by 11 runs in an epic high-scoring game in Florida against Los Angeles Knight Riders. Andre Fletcher's second ton of the tournament helped LAKR post 243 on the board and despite losing the in-form top three for a combined total of 5 runs, SFU came up with a stunning comeback led by Sanjay Krishnamurthi's 40-ball 92.

LAKR were on the money right from the word go as their openers, Fletcher and Alex Hales, scored 15 from the first over of the game. Even though SFU pulled things back to an extent in the next four overs, the last over of the powerplay saw Hales go berserk as he hit four fours and two sixes off Ben Lister. He was then immediately dismissed after bringing up a 24-ball fifty but the real carnage was in store after a rain break that reduced the contest to 19 overs per side.

Sherfane Rutherford and Fletcher tore into the SFU attack as LAKR ended up going past the highest total of the season at this venue. Even though Xavier Bartlett bowled a fantastic over to dismiss Rutherford, the final two overs saw Fletcher clear the ropes five times as the 37-year-old brought up a century for the second time in five games. Chasing 244, SFU's task became a lot tougher when Finn Allen miscued one in the very first over to get caught near deep midwicket. If that wasn't enough, Karthik Gattepalli removed Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk in the same over as SFU's top order was back in the pavilion after just ten deliveries.

The chase appeared to be done and dusted right there but a cameo from Hassan Khan kept them afloat before Krishnamurthi took charge. After Hassan's dismissal, it was Hammad Azam's turn to come up with a cameo. Despite their efforts, 106 off 48 still looked like a tall order. But the next two overs saw SFU score 38 runs before a 26-run over brought the equation down to a gettable 38 off 18. Jason Holder, who had bagged the key wicket of Krishnamurthi, then dragged his team back with another quiet over but Bartlett's boundaries kept SFU in the hunt right until the end. Shadley van Schalkwyk, entrusted with defending 18 from the final over, got the job done by picking two wickets off two balls when the opposition needed 12 from 3.

A thrilling win would have seen SFU pip Texas Super Kings to the second spot in the points table and seal their spot in the Qualifier but the result now sees them finish third as a result of NRR. Even though their place in the playoffs was already in the bag, missing out on a top two spot would be really disappointing for SFU given the fact that they won their first six games. They are now in must-win territory as they will face MI New York in the Eliminator in Dallas on July 9 whereas TSK will square up against Washington Freedom in the Qualifier a day before.

Brief scores: Los Angeles Knight Riders 243/3 in 19 overs (Andre Fletcher 118, Alex Hales 58) beat San Francisco Unicorns 233 in 18.5 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 92; Karthik Gattepalli 3/31, Jason Holder 2/28) by 11 runs (via DLS)