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Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
MLC 2025: San Francisco Unicorns history, top performers, schedule, squad
San Francisco Unicorns reached the final of the 2024 MLC. MLC 2025: The San Francisco Unicorns' journey in Major League Cricket (MLC) has been a tale of resilience and revival. After a disappointing debut in 2023—where they missed out on the playoffs and finished fifth—they bounced back in spectacular fashion in 2024, making a deep run to the final before falling just short of the title. As the 2025 season kicks off on June 12, the Unicorns will be eager to put the heartbreak of last year's final behind them and launch a fresh title charge. They begin their campaign with a blockbuster clash against reigning champions Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum in California Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! . PERFORMANCE IN 2023 Matches: 5 Wins: 2 Losses: 3 Tied: 0 No Result: 0 Points: 4 Position: 5th Under the leadership of Aaron Finch, the Unicorns began their MLC campaign with promise, defeating MI New York by 22 runs in their opening match. However, their momentum faltered with a 35-run loss to Seattle Orcas in their second game. They responded with a solid 21-run victory over the LA Knight Riders but were unable to maintain consistency. Consecutive defeats—by 30 runs to Washington Freedom and by 3 wickets to Texas Super Kings—ended their playoff hopes. With just 2 wins from 5 matches, the Unicorns placed fifth in the six-team standings. Bombay Sport Exchange Episode 1: Interview with Sanjog Gupta, CEO (Sports) at JioStar PERFORMANCE IN 2024 Matches: 7 Wins: 5 Losses: 1 Tied: 0 No Result: 1 Points: 11 Position: 2nd A key change ahead of the 2024 season was the appointment of New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson as captain—a move that paid rich dividends. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tecno Pova Curve 5G - 144hz Curve Feels Like No Phone Before TECNO Mobile Buy Now Undo The Unicorns began the season on a high, defeating the LA Knight Riders by 6 wickets. They stumbled in their second match, losing to Texas Super Kings by 7 wickets. Their third fixture, again against LA Knight Riders, was washed out due to rain, earning them a single point. That's when the real turnaround began. The Unicorns went on a four-match winning streak, beating Seattle Orcas by 23 runs, MI New York by 3 runs, and Washington Freedom twice—first by 6 wickets and then by 7 wickets—to storm into the playoffs. In the Qualifier, however, Washington Freedom turned the tables, handing the Unicorns a 9-wicket defeat. But the Unicorns stayed alive by edging out Texas Super Kings by 10 runs in the Eliminator, booking a place in the final. Facing Washington Freedom for the third time in the tournament, the Unicorns fell short when it mattered most. In a one-sided final, they lost by 96 runs and finished as runners-up in a remarkable comeback season. STANDOUT PERFORMERS Finn Allen: Finn Allen emerged as the batting mainstay for the San Francisco Unicorns in the 2024 season. The explosive opener amassed 306 runs in 9 matches at an average of 34.00 and a blistering strike rate of 187.73. He finished as the team's highest run-scorer, with one century and two half-centuries to his name. Allen's dynamic performances at the top were pivotal to the Unicorns' resurgence and run to the final. Hassan Khan: All-rounder Hassan Khan played a crucial role in the Unicorns' turnaround season with his impactful contributions in both departments. He scored 204 runs and was the team's second-highest run-scorer, while also finishing as their leading wicket-taker with 10 dismissals. His consistent all-round performances made him one of the most valuable players in the Unicorns' 2024 campaign. SQUAD IN 2025 Finn Allen, Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sherfane Rutherford, Corey Anderson, Karima Gore, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tajinder Singh, Jahmar Hamilton, Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins, Brody Couch, Carmi le Roux, Hassan Khan, Liam Plunkett, Haris Rauf, Matt Henry, Abrar Ahmed CAPTAIN: Corey Anderson COACH: Shane Watson SCHEDULE San Francisco Unicorns - MLC 2025 Fixtures vs Washington Freedom – 1st Match Date: June 12 (Thu) Venue: Oakland Coliseum, California Time: June 13, 01:00 AM GMT / 6:30 AM IST / 6:00 PM LOCAL vs Los Angeles Knight Riders – 3rd Match Date: June 14 (Sat) Venue: Oakland Coliseum, California Time: June 15, 09:00 PM GMT / 2:30 AM IST (Jun 16) / 2:00 PM LOCAL vs MI New York – 6th Match Date: June 15 (Sun) Venue: Oakland Coliseum, California Time: June 16, 01:00 AM GMT / 6:30 AM IST / 6:00 PM LOCAL vs Texas Super Kings – 10th Match Date: June 20 (Fri) Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Time: June 21, 12:00 AM GMT / 5:30 AM IST / 7:00 PM LOCAL (Jun 20) vs MI New York – 14th Match Date: June 23 (Mon) Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Time: June 24, 12:00 AM GMT / 5:30 AM IST / 7:00 PM LOCAL (Jun 23) vs Seattle Orcas – 16th Match Date: June 25 (Wed) Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Time: June 26, 12:00 AM GMT / 5:30 AM IST / 7:00 PM LOCAL (Jun 25) vs Washington Freedom – 19th Match Date: June 28 (Sat) Venue: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas Time: June 29, 08:00 PM GMT / 1:30 AM IST (Jun 30) / 3:00 PM LOCAL vs Seattle Orcas – 22nd Match Date: July 1 (Tue) Venue: Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida Time: July 2, 11:00 PM GMT / 4:30 AM IST (Jul 3) / 7:00 PM LOCAL vs Texas Super Kings – 25th Match Date: July 4 (Fri) Venue: Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida Time: July 5, 07:00 PM GMT / 12:30 AM IST (Jul 6) / 3:00 PM LOCAL vs Los Angeles Knight Riders – 30th Match Date: July 6 (Sun) vs Central Broward Regional Park, Lauderhill, Florida Time: July 7, 11:00 PM GMT / 4:30 AM IST (Jul 8) / 7:00 PM LOCAL
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
San Francisco Unicorns show promise with strong comeback in 2024
San Francisco Unicorns The San Francisco Unicorns have experienced a tale of two seasons in Major League Cricket (MLC), going from early struggles in the inaugural 2023 edition to emerging as strong title contenders in 2024. While their first campaign ended in disappointment, the Unicorns staged a commendable turnaround in the second season, reaching the final and finishing as runners-up. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 2023: A Faltering Start The Unicorns began their MLC journey with a promising 22-run victory over eventual champions MI New York. However, consistency eluded them as they suffered a 35-run defeat to Seattle Orcas in the next game. A 21-run win over LA Knight Riders briefly revived their campaign, but it turned out to be their last win of the season. Back-to-back losses to Washington Freedom (by 30 runs) and Texas Super Kings (by 3 wickets) ended their playoff hopes. With just two wins from five matches, the Unicorns finished fifth in the six-team table. More Than a Team: The Rise of CSK & the Whistle Podu Army 2024: A Remarkable Turnaround Determined to make amends, the Unicorns bounced back in the 2024 season. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning For Working Professionals. BITS Pilani WILP Apply Now Undo They began their campaign with a confident six-wicket win over LA Knight Riders. Though they lost their second match to Texas Super Kings by seven wickets, it proved to be their only defeat in the league stage. A rain-abandoned game against LA Knight Riders was followed by a strong winning streak — the Unicorns notched four consecutive wins against Seattle Orcas (by 23 runs), MI New York (by 3 runs), Seattle Orcas again (by 6 wickets), and Washington Freedom (by 6 wickets via DLS). This surge helped them finish second on the points table with five wins from seven matches. In the playoffs, the Unicorns lost the Qualifier to Washington Freedom by seven wickets but rebounded by defeating Texas Super Kings in the Challenger by 10 runs. However, their title hopes were dashed in the final as Washington handed them a crushing 96-run defeat. Despite falling short in the final, the season marked a major improvement. Finn Allen led the batting charts for San Francisco with 306 runs in nine games, while Hassan Khan impressed with 10 wickets, underlining the Unicorns' evolution into genuine MLC contenders. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
San Francisco Unicorns sign rising Aussie spinner Callum Stow for MLC 2025
San Francisco Unicorns add Australian bowler Callum Stow The San Francisco Unicorns have finalised their squad for the upcoming 2025 Cognizant Major League Cricket (MLC) season with the signing of promising Australian wrist spinner Callum Stow. At just 22, Stow is emerging as one of Australia's most exciting spin prospects. He recently made his Big Bash League (BBL) debut for the Melbourne Renegades, stepping in for the iconic Nathan Lyon while he was on international duty. Operation Sindoor How India shut down Pakistan's second desperate bid to escalate tensions Pak used civilian planes as shield to launch failed drone attack: India S-400, Spyder, Akash: What is in India's air defence arsenal? In two BBL appearances, Stow impressed by picking up three wickets at an economy rate of 7.75. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The left-arm wrist spinner also made headlines during the 2024 Global Super League (GSL) in Guyana, where he bagged nine wickets in five matches for Cricket Victoria . There, he shared the field with several current Unicorns players, including Corey Anderson, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and Karima Gore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo IPL 2025 suspended: What happens next? Reflecting on his journey, Stow said, 'The last few months have been a whirlwind, making the jump from Geelong to the Renegades, and now to Major League Cricket with the Unicorns. I can't wait to get started in the USA. Playing with the likes of Corey [Anderson] and other Unicorns players in the GSL has given me an idea of the high standards and quality culture we're looking to build in San Francisco. And with Shane's coaching, this is a huge opportunity for me to show what I'm about and to continue my development as a T20 bowler.' Unicorns head coach Shane Watson praised the signing, adding: 'We've been keeping an eye on Callum's development for a while now. Having broken into the BBL earlier this year, it's clear he's ready for the next step in T20 cricket. His skillset and confidence will be a big asset, and the surprise factor of an unfamiliar spinner can be a real game-changer across the different pitches we'll play on this season.' Quiz: Who's that IPL player? The San Francisco Unicorns begin their MLC 2025 campaign on June 12 at the Oakland Coliseum against the Washington Freedom, followed by home clashes with the LA Knight Riders and MI New York. They'll then travel to Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Texas for four matches, before concluding the league stage with three games at Broward County Stadium in Florida – including a highly anticipated West Coast derby rematch with the Knight Riders. The playoffs will return to Grand Prairie. About the San Francisco Unicorns Formed in 2023 as one of six founding franchises of Major League Cricket, the San Francisco Unicorns have quickly become a flagship team in American cricket. Their home base is the historic Oakland Coliseum, and the team features international stars such as Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Finn Allen, and Liam Plunkett. The Unicorns' high-performance partner is Cricket Victoria, the governing body for the sport in the Australian state of Victoria. The franchise is backed by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan, founders of and former creators of Junglee, acquired by Amazon in 1998 for $250 million.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
बिजली की रफ्तार से सुसाइड ड्रोन दुश्मन को ढूंढकर मारने में माहिर, सेना ने आतंकी ठिकानों को इसी से किया ध्वस्त
लेखक के बारे में As a young democracy grows out of adolescence, its rolling out reels and reels of tales. If the first post office or a telephone connection paints one colour, the Stamp of a stock market scam or the 'Jewel Thieves' scandal paint yet another colour. If failure of a sounding rocket was a stepping stone, sending 104 satellites in one go was a podium. If farmer suicides are a bad climax, growing number of Unicorns are a grand entry. Chethan Kumar, Senior Assistant Editor, The Times of India, who alternates between the mundane goings-on of the hoi polloi and the wonder-filled worlds of scientists and scamsters, politicians and Jawans, feels: There's always a story, one just has to find it.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
MLC 2025: San Francisco Unicorns rope in West Indie all-rounder Romario Shepherd
The San Francisco Unicorns have signed West Indies all-rounder Romario Shepherd to their roster for the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season. Having made his name in the Caribbean Premier League ( CPL ), Shepherd, 30, has represented some of the biggest global franchises in the world, including the Mumbai Indians and the Joburg Super Kings. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Shepherd boasts career-best bowling figures of 4/13 in the shortest format. While primarily known for his pace with the ball, he has also gained a well-earned reputation as a destructive finisher at the crease, with an international average of over 26 and a strike rate of 139. The West Indian will come prepared for the conditions of MLC cricket and the strength of the Unicorns' team, having represented MI New York four times in 2024, including an appearance against his new side at the Grand Prairie Stadium, which ended in a Unicorns victory. Romario Shepherd is the latest signing to bolster the San Francisco team's roster for the new season, with Australian internationals Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett recently announced, along with New Zealand international wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Seifert. Romario Shepherd said: 'I've seen first-hand the quality and entertainment that's on show at Major League Cricket, and this represents a huge opportunity to return for the 2025 season and help the Unicorns to success in what's going to be the tournament's biggest edition yet. 'I got a taste of the Texas support and Grand Prairie atmosphere last year, but playing in front of our home fans for the first time at the Oakland Coliseum will be a completely different experience. I can't wait to get started with Shane and the team.' Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 4: Prof. Ratnakar Shetty on BCCI, cricket politics & Indian cricket's growth Shane Watson, Head Coach of the San Francisco Unicorns, said: 'Romario's reputation on the global T20 circuit is impressive. His experience playing in different conditions and ability to both lead the bowling attack and finish an innings with the bat will be a major asset to the Unicorns this season. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'We're continuing to build a squad that can adapt as a team and individuals to various conditions, while always looking to dominate with power hitting and smart bowling, and Romario's professionalism and skillset will be a strong fit for our playing style.' The San Francisco Unicorns will kick off the 2025 MLC season at the Oakland Coliseum in California, opening the tournament against last year's champions, the Washington Freedom, on Thursday, June 12. They'll play two more matches at the same venue—facing the LA Knight Riders on June 14 and MI New York on June 15—before the teams move on to the next set of fixtures at Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.
