Ignored in IPL 2025, PBKS pacer erupts with 5 sixes in explosive T20 fifty; seals last-over thriller for SF Unicorns
2024 Major League Cricket runners-up San Francisco Unicorns continued their strong run to start the season on home turf in California, beating MI New York by 3 wickets in a tense contest at the Oakland Coliseum to make it three consecutive victories in the new season. In a match that went down to the final over, Australian bowler Xavier Bartlett was the hero, showing his chops with the bat 59*(25) to rescue the chase.
After MINY had put up 182-7 in the first innings thanks to excellent hands by a pair of international veterans in Quinton de Kock and Kieron Pollard, SFU seemed to be in trouble as they were left at 42-4 at the end of the powerplay. A quiet night for their top order left plenty to do for the late middle order, but a barrage of hitting by Hassan Khan brought them back into the contest.
However, Khan was dismissed after scoring 43(17), and another lull period followed. Bartlett's arrival at number eight was the jumpstart the innings needed. Four boundaries and five maximums from the bat of the Queenslander meant the team stayed in touch of the target. This was Bartlett's first half-century in T20 cricket, as he showed plenty of power and timing. Impressively, much of Bartlett's hitting came with 7 wickets down, showing great quality in a high-pressure situation. Bartlett finished things off with a six off Pollard.
Earlier in the day, Bartlett had also taken the absolutely crucial wicket of MINY captain Nicholas Pooran, arguably the most destructive cricketer in the world, for just 5 runs. Bartlett's performance with bat and his figures of 1-32 ensured that he came away with the player of the match award.
Two wickets apiece for Hassan Khan, Haris Rauf, and Carmi Le Roux ensured that San Francisco had an achievable target despite their early collapse. This makes it three wins in three matches for Corey Anderson's Unicorns, winning all three of their matches in the Bay Area to wrap a successful home leg. Their next match will be in Dallas, up against the Texas Super Kings.
MI New York, meanwhile, slipped to two losses in two games. They will be looking to get on the board in their final match in Oakland, which will see them face Seattle Orcas.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
MLC 2025: Monank Patel's 93 enters record-book as MI New York beat Seattle Orcas by 7 wickets
Monank Patel of MI New York (Sportzpics) NEW DELHI: MI New York bounced back in style with a commanding 7-wicket win over the Seattle Orcas in the 9th match of Major League Cricket 2025 at Oakland Coliseum, California. Chasing a stiff 201-run target, MI New York reached 203/3 in 19 overs, thanks to a blazing unbeaten 50 from Michael Bracewell and a composed 93 from opener Monank Patel, who registered the highest individual score by an American player in MLC history with this knock. . After deciding to bat first, the Seattle Orcas posted a competitive 200/5. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Kyle Mayers starred with a 46-ball 88, hammering 10 sixes and three fours in a fluent knock. Opener Shayan Jahangir (43) and captain Heinrich Klaasen (27) chipped in with valuable contributions, while Naveen-ul-Haq picked up two wickets for MI New York, including the key scalp of Hetmyer. Despite the solid total, Seattle's bowlers failed to defend on a flat track. MI New York lost Quinton de Kock early for 14, but Monank Patel anchored the chase beautifully, putting on a 119-run stand with Bracewell. Patel smashed eight fours and seven sixes in his 50-ball 93, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a rapid rate. Highest Individual Score by an American Player in MLC 93: Monank Patel v SEO, 2025* 79*: SP Krishnamurthi v WSF, 2024 68: Unmukt Chand v TSK, 2024 62: Unmukt Chand v SEO, 2024 62: Monank Patel v TSK, 2025 Bracewell, who also bowled a tight spell earlier (1/20), delivered with the bat too. His unbeaten 50 off 35 balls, laced with three fours and three sixes, ensured there were no late hiccups. Kieron Pollard added a quickfire 26 not out off 10 balls to finish the game in style with an over to spare. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What She Did Mid-Air Left Passengers Speechless medalmerit Learn More Undo MI New York: All You Need to Know | MLC 2025 Squad, Stars and Fixtures Sikandar Raza was the only bright spot in Seattle's bowling, picking up two wickets, including Pooran and de Kock. However, lack of support from the rest of the attack cost the Orcas dearly. With this win, MI New York opened their accounts in the MLC 2025 points table, while Seattle, still without a win after three matches, will need to regroup quickly after back-to-back defeats. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
‘Nightmare' ‘last-chance saloon' Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne might not play Ashes, say Ian Healy and Jason Gillespie
Marnus Labuschagne is under pressure to hold his spot in Australian Test side after the WTC final capped a poor run of form in the recent times. The former pacer Jason Gillespie has said that the upcoming series in West Indies might be Labuschagne's last if he doesn't perform. Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy has sent out warning to Usman Khawaja, saying he can't coast till Ashes. 'If you [Khawaja] limp to the end of your career and the last series you're hanging out for is the Ashes, it's going to be a nightmare,' Healy told SEN radio. 'England are coming. They're coming for us big time. They're picking the right style of bowler and they're looking at batsmen who can prosper in Australian conditions. They are going so specific (with selection) that they are going to be all over us. If you're not right on the top of your energy levels and your technique – which we're not at the moment – you're going to get hurt. In your last series if you're not there, if you thought it was going to be fun, it's a nightmare,' Healy said on Khawaja. Gillespie turned the heat on Labuschagne. 'If he [Labuschagne] does play in the Caribbean, I think it's definitely last chance saloon, there's no doubt about that,' Gillespie told SEN radio. 'I think if he doesn't perform strongly, then I think he's at a real risk of not playing in the Ashes.' It's not just his recent form that has been worrying Gillespie. 'Over the last two years, he's averaged in the mid-20s and he's got only one I suspect either one of Usman or Marnus will miss out in the West Indies. That's my estimation.' At the WTC final, Cameron Green, who had made his comeback after months of recuperating from injury, had batted at No.3 and failed. He was caught in the slips in both innings, poking at deliveries. In the second innings, he walked down the track but yet again had a fatal poke. 'With Steve Smith locked into No. 4 and Travis Head at No. 5 when fully fit, that leaves No. 3 as the last non-opening spot for a specialist batsman in the Test XI for the Ashes,' Gillespie said, in case Labuschagne doesn't make it for the Ashes. 'I know that Steve Smith's best position is at four and I think Travis Head's best position is at five. I think those guys are pretty set,' Gillespie said. 'So, I think ultimately that the selectors have got to decide: Is Jos Inglis the best man to do the job at three, or is Marnus the best man to do the job at three? Gillespie wants the selectors to look at the best performer in domestic cricket. 'Reward some performers in domestic cricket with either an opener or a number three who has performed strongly in Sheffield Shield cricket to promote one of those players to bat at three.'
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
I argued they could pick Sachin or Miandad. But there was a hitch: Gavaskar's intervention in Yorkshire's iconic deal
In 1992, Yorkshire had signed a historic deal as they roped in 19-year-old Sachin Tendulkar, who became their first-ever overseas player. But pulling off the deal took a bit of convincing on both sides. While it was Suleman' Solly' Adam to played the role in persuading the English County club to consider Sachin, his friend and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, convinced Sachin to agree to it. Suleman, a cricket fanatic, who travelled from Gujarat in the post-partition period to Karachi and eventually settled in Leeds, Yorkshire, turned host for many Indian cricketers over the years, having arranged county deals for most of them. Sachin was among them. Speaking to The Indian Express, Suleman recalled that in 1992, Australian pacer Craig McDermott had become the first overseas player to be signed by Yorkshire. Unfortunately, he became injured, which was a window of opportunity for Suleman. He immediately dropped by the Yorkshire office and convinced them to sign an Indian or Pakistani—Sachin or Javed Miandad—given the Asian diaspora in the town. It took a while, but the answer came 'Yes,' with the young Indian being their choice. "The minute I came to know, I ran to the Yorkshire club. I asked them, 'Why don't you sign an Indian or Pakistani? I argued that since Yorkshire has this large Asian diaspora, they could consider Tendulkar or Javed Miandad. That was the time the great Don Bradman had said that watching Tendulkar bat reminded him of his own batting. After two to three hours, they were convinced, they opted for Tendulkar," says Solly. But there was a problem. Yorkshire had no idea how they would contact Sachin, which is where Gavaskar came into the picture. Sachin was then in Australia in the middle of a series when the Yorkshire deal was offered, but he wasn't ready to accept it. Suleman then called up Gavaskar to convince the youngster and "history was made." Suleman said: "I told him that he was young and he could do it. Later I asked my friend Sunil (Gavaskar) to talk to Tendulkar. While playing for Somerset, Sunil had benefited. Finally, Tendulkar was convinced and history was made." Sachin played 16 first-class matches for the team, scoring 1070 runs at an average of 46.52.
