San Francisco Unicorns vs Seattle Orcas Match Highlights & Results

Right then, that will be it from us for this contest. Make sure to join in on 2nd July, Wednesday, for Match 23, where the Texas Super Kings will take on the Washington Freedom from the same venue. That game will start at 11.00 pm GMT (previous day). But as you know, you can always join us early for all the build-up to the match. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Sikandar Raza, the Seattle Orcas skipper, is up for a chat. Says that they had a belief after the first game where they chased 230-odd against MI New York. Adds that the beauty about it is that they are winning the crunch moments, and Hetmyer is doing a good job for them. Shares that the bowling performance was good, so happy with that, and hopes to sharpen the fielding a little bit. Mentions that the management had to make a few decisions at the halfway stage of the tournament, and they backed it. Closes by saying that they need to play as a professional team.

Shimron Hetmyer is the Player of the Match for his stellar knock. He says that the prayers help him to finish the game. Adds that they need to play according to the situation and execute it well. Mentions that he is trying to access the offside a lot more and trying to hit the ball as per his strength. He tries to ensure that the run-rate does not go above 12, and he adds some energy to his partners to play some strong shots. Closes by saying that he thinks he won the battle against his countryman, Romario Shepherd.

Presentation time...

Matthew Short, the San Francisco Unicorns skipper, is up for a chat. He says that it was a tacky surface and was under the covers for a fair bit. Adds that they didn't bat badly, and the Orcas bowled well towards the end. Mentions that they are learning for the next game and backs Tim Seifert to come good. Closes by saying that the wicket played similarly in the second innings, but it got a bit dewy under lights.

Earlier, the Unicorns posted a competitive total of 168/5 after electing to bat first, thanks to solid contributions from Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Tim Seifert, and Jake Fraser-McGurk. For the Orcas, Ayan Desai and Gerald Coetzee stood out with the ball, keeping the Unicorns from accelerating further. Despite the loss—now their second in a row—the Unicorns remain at the top of the table. The Orcas, meanwhile, gained valuable momentum and two important points in the standings.

The San Francisco Unicorns began impressively with the ball, striking early and maintaining control for much of the match. However, a late-game blitz from Shimron Hetmyer turned the tide, securing a dramatic victory for the Orcas. Xavier Bartlett led the Unicorns’ bowling attack with two wickets, while Liam Plunkett, Hassan Khan, and Romario Shepherd each contributed with one. Brody Couch bowled economically through most of his spell but conceded crucial runs in the final overs, which led to their downfall.

A Shimron Hetmyer special lit up the evening as the Seattle Orcas clinched their third consecutive victory in dramatic fashion. Chasing 169, the Orcas found themselves in deep trouble at 56/4 inside the first ten overs. While Shayan Jahangir offered a steady hand at the top, it was Hetmyer who once again emerged as the match-winner. Displaying nerves of steel and explosive shot-making, Hetmyer stitched together vital partnerships with Heinrich Klaasen and Aaron Jones, before Gerald Coetzee lent support in the final stretch. The Guyanese powerhouse remained unbeaten on a sensational 78 off just 37 deliveries, steering his side home with composure and flair. A stunning chase, a stellar knock—and a reminder that when Hetmyer is in form, the Orcas are never out of the fight.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, 2 runs.SHIMRON HETMYER TAKES THE ORCAS HOME! Back of a length delivery, outside off. Shimron Hetmyer cuts it toward the deep backward point region for a couple. The Orcas win by four wickets with three balls to spare.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! COLOSSAL HIT! Pace-off delivery, on a length, outside off. Shimron Hetmyer moves across and smokes it over the wide long-on fence for a massive 102m hit. That should seal the deal for the Orcas.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.A dot to start the final over. Slower ball on the full, around off. Shimron Hetmyer looks to drag but gets the inside edge onto the pad. 8 needed off 5 balls.

Xavier Bartlett to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.IN THE AIR AND DROPPED! Back of a length delivery, angling across the batter. Shimron Hetmyer carves it aerially toward the deep cover region. Karima Gore runs in from the boundary, comes forward, and the ball pops out of his palms. 8 needed off the last over.

Xavier Bartlett to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Low full toss on the leg. Gerald Coetzee turns into the leg side for one.

Xavier Bartlett to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Slower, back of a length, on off. Shimron Hetmyer mistimes the pull. Lands on the bounce to the deep mid-wicket fielder. Single taken.

Xavier Bartlett to Shimron Hetmyer, Four!FOUR! SMASHED! Short of a good length, around off. Shimron Hetmyer picks this early and hammers it toward the cow corner region. A couple of bounces and into the boundary.

Xavier Bartlett to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.On a length, on off. Gerald Coetzee pulls it to long-on for one.

Xavier Bartlett to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.IN THE AIR BUT LANDS SAFE! Back of a length delivery on off. Shimron Hetmyer miscues the pull toward long-on and falls just in front of the fielder running in.

Brody Couch to Gerald Coetzee, Four!FOUR! SMART BATTING! Slower and shorter, angling into the batter. Gerald Coetzee stays back and guides it over the keeper, toward the third man region for a cheeky boundary. 17 needed off 12 balls now. Seattle Orcas are the favourites.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.On a length, around off. Slapped to deep extra cover for a single.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Pitched full, just outside off. Shimron Hetmyer swings and misses.

Brody Couch to Gerald Coetzee, Leg bye.LEG BYE! Skiddy length ball, on the leg. Gerald Coetzee turns it off the pad, into the leg side for an extra.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Short of a good length, around off. Shimron Hetmyer slaps this to long-off for one.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! DISPATCHED! Slower ball on the full, at the stumps. Shimron Hetmyer heaves it over the deep backward square leg fence for half a dozen to start the over.

Brody Couch (3-0-11-0) is back into the attack.

Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Pitched full, around off. Driven to long-off for a single. 30 needed off the last three overs.

Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, Wide!WIDE! Slower bumper, down the leg. Shimron Hetmyer lets it go. Wide signaled.

Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, 2 runs.Length ball, on off. Shimron Hetmyer nudges it through mid-wicket for a couple.

Liam Plunkett to Gerald Coetzee, 1 run.Pace-off, on a length, around off. Gerald Coetzee knocks it to long-on for one.

Gerald Coetzee walks in at 8.

Liam Plunkett to Aaron Jones, OUT! c Karima Gore b Liam Plunkett.OUT! CAUGHT! Liam Plunkett gets his man! Slower, back of a length delivery on off. Aaron Jones crunches the pull and hits it flat, but goes straight to Karima Gore at the deep mid-wicket region, who makes no mistake. The partnership is broken and the Orcas are six down.

Liam Plunkett to Aaron Jones, 2 runs.Pitched full, outside off. Aaron Jones clears the front leg and lofts it toward deep extra cover for a couple.

Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, No ball!NO BALL. Lands it on a length on the leg. Shimron Hetmyer nudges it through backward square leg for a single. Oh No! Liam Plunkett has overstepped. No Ball signaled. Free Hit coming up.

Liam Plunkett to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! FIFTY FOR HETMYER! Slower ball on the full, in the slot. Shimron Hetmyer picks it early and tonks it over the bowler for a thumping hit.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The match is finely poised, with the Seattle Orcas needing 45 runs from the final four overs. Shimron Hetmyer stands as the linchpin of their chase, well-supported by Aaron Jones. The San Francisco Unicorns will be desperate to break this partnership, especially by removing Hetmyer, to tighten their hold on the game.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Flatter, on the middle. Shimron Hetmyer works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Matthew Short to Aaron Jones, 1 run.Tosses it on a length, on middle. Aaron Jones slog-sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

Matthew Short to Aaron Jones, No run.Pitched full, on off. Aaron Jones advances and bunts it back at Short.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Flatter and quicker, around off. Shimron Hetmyer steers it toward deep backward point for one.

Matthew Short to Aaron Jones, 1 run.Flatter on the leg. Nudged round the corner for one.

Matthew Short to Aaron Jones, Six!SIX! BOOM! Tosses it full, on off. Aaron Jones sits on his knee and slogs it over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen.

Romario Shepherd to Aaron Jones, 1 run.On a hard length, on off. Aaron Jones knocks it through covers for one.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Fuller than a length, outside off. Driven to long-off for one.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.On a length, around off. Shimron Hetmyer hits it to the extra cover fielder.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, Four!FOUR! SLAMMED! Low full toss, around off. Shimron Hetmyer creams the drive through extra cover for a cracking boundary.

Romario Shepherd to Aaron Jones, 1 run.Lands it on a length, on the middle. Aaron Jones nudges it through square leg for a run.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Pitched full, around off. Shimron Hetmyer drags the slog toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Tosses it full, around off. Shimron Hetmyer drills this to long-off for one.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Flatter and quicker, around off. Knocked to the extra cover fielder.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! JUST OVER! Floated full, just outside off. Shimron Hetmyer hits it off the cue end, has enough to clear the man at long-off for half a dozen.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, 2 runs.Tosses it on a length, around off. Shimron Hetmyer carves it through the backward point region for a couple.

Matthew Short to Aaron Jones, 1 run.Floated full, just outside off. Aaron Jones gets across and slogs it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for one.

Matthew Short to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Tosses it full, on off. Shimron Hetmyer eases it to long-off for one.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, 1 run.Yorker, just outside off. Shimron Hetmyer squeezes it to deep backward point for one.

Romario Shepherd to Shimron Hetmyer, Four!FOUR! CLASSY! Full-length delivery outside off. Shimron Hetmyer leans forward and times it through extra cover and mid-off for a glorious boundary.

Romario Shepherd to Aaron Jones, 1 run.Short of a length, on off. Aaron Jones plays it awkwardly into the leg side for one.

Romario Shepherd to Aaron Jones, No run.Length ball, on the middle and leg. Aaron Jones nudges it to short mid-wicket.

Romario Shepherd to Aaron Jones, No run.On a hard length, on off. Aaron Jones blocks into the off-side.

Aaron Jones walks in next.

Romario Shepherd to Heinrich Klaasen, OUT! c Tim Seifert b Romario Shepherd.OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Romario Shepherd strikes! Bowls it fuller than a good length, well outside off. Heinrich Klaasen plays away from the body and looks to drive, gets the outside edge, and Tim Seifert does the rest. The poor form of Heinrich Klaasen continues. Seattle Orcas have lost half of their side now.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, Four!FOUR! STAND AND DELIVER! Good length ball around middle and off. Hetmyer presents the full face of the bat and thumps it back past the bowler to pick up a boundary. Pure timing on it.

Brody Couch to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Yorker on off. Shimron Hetmyer jams it to backward point.

Brody Couch to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run.Fuller than a good length, at the stumps. Heinrich Klaasen shimmies down and drives this to deep cover for one.

Brody Couch to Heinrich Klaasen, 2 runs.Back of a length on the middle. Heinrich Klaasen pulls this through mid-wicket for a couple.

Brody Couch to Heinrich Klaasen, 4 Leg byes.FOUR LEG BYES! Length ball, angling into the leg. Heinrich Klaasen tickles it off the past, rolls past the keeper, runs down to fine leg for four bonus runs.

Brody Couch to Heinrich Klaasen, No run.On a hard length, around off. Heinrich Klaasen knocks this toward extra cover.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! HIGH AND HANDSOME! The extra ball costs the Unicorns. Flighted full, on off. Shimron Hetmyer gets on his knee and powers it over wide long-on for half a dozen.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Tossed up full, on the leg pole. Shimron Hetmyer swings and misses onto the pad.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, Wide!WIDE! Too full, down the leg. Shimron Hetmyer swings and misses. Free Hit continues.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, No ball!NO BALL! Tosses it full, just inside the tramline. Shimron Hetmyer lets it go. A late no-ball call from the umpire as Hassan Khan oversteps. Free Hit is coming up.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Flatter and quicker on the middle. Shimron Hetmyer tucks into the leg side.

Hassan Khan to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! PUMPED! Floated full, around off. Shimron Hetmyer sits low and powers it over the bowler for half a dozen toward the sight screen.

Hassan Khan to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run.Flighted ball outside off. Driven past extra cover for a single.

Hassan Khan to Heinrich Klaasen, No run.Tossed up full, on off. Driven back to the bowler.

Karima Gore to Shimron Hetmyer, Six!SIX! BOOM! Tosses it full, on off. Shimron Hetmyer sits low and smashes it over the cow corner fence for half a dozen.

Karima Gore to Shimron Hetmyer, No run.Flatter on off. Shimron Hetmyer looks to play across, gets a leading edge to the right of the bowler.

Karima Gore to Heinrich Klaasen, 1 run.Short and outside off. Heinrich Klaasen cuts it to deep point for one.

Heinrich Klaasen walks in next.

Karima Gore to Shayan Jahangir, OUT! b Karima Gore.OUT! BOWLED'EM! Maiden MLC wicket for Karima Gore. Bowls it too full, angling in at the stumps. Shayan Jahangir looks to block but plays all around it, and the ball sneaks through and clatters into the stumps. Seattle Orcas have two wickets in two balls. San Francisco Unicorns are on top at the moment.

Shimron Hetmyer walks in at 5.

Karima Gore to Shayan Jahangir, OUT! run out (Karima Gore).OUT! RUN OUT! Sharp work from Karima Gore leads to the downfall of the Orcas skipper. Flatter ball around off. Jahangir punches it straight back to Gore, who gets some fingertips on it. The ball then ricochets off his right hand and crashes into the stumps, leaving Raza comfortably short of his crease. Seattle Orcas are three down.

Karima Gore to Sikandar Raza, 1 run.Tossed up full, around off. Sikandar Raza drills this to deep cover for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! The Seattle Orcas find themselves in a spot of bother, chasing 169 but managing only six runs an over at the moment. Shayan Jahangir is holding firm at the crease, but skipper Raza will need to accelerate soon if the Orcas are to stay in the hunt. On the other hand, the San Francisco Unicorns have been disciplined with the ball, keeping things tight and piling on the pressure.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, 1 run.Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Sikandar Raza knocks this to long-on for a single.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, No run.Slower through the air, on a length, outside off. Sikandar Raza plays the reverse swipe but does not connect.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, No run.Flatter and quicker on off. Sikandar Raza blocks from the crease.

Hassan Khan to Shayan Jahangir, 1 run.Flatter on the leg. Shayan Jahangir chips it toward silly mid-on for one.

Hassan Khan to Shayan Jahangir, No run.Tosses it full, spins away, around off. Shayan Jahangir looks to slog but misses.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, 1 run.Flatter on off. Sikandar Raza nudges into the leg side for one.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, Six!SIX! BANG! Back of a length delivery, around off. Shayan Jahangir moves across and clubs it over the deep mid-wicket boundary for half a dozen.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, No ball!NO BALL! Lands it full, outside the tramline. Shayan Jahangir lets it go. Wide signaled. Free Hit stays. Oh No! Romario Shepherd has overstepped again.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, No ball!NO BALL! Short again, well over the batter. Shayan Jahangir pulls and misses. No ball is signaled for the height. Free Hit is coming up.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, Four!FOUR! STREAKY! Banged in short, angled into the batter. Shayan Jahangir looks to pull, gets the top edge that flies over the keeper for a lucky boundary.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, No run.Back of a length, on the middle and leg. Shayan Jahangir gets across to scoop but misses.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, Four!FOUR! FINDS THE GAP! Fuller than a length, around off. Shayan Jahangir shuffles across and threads the gap past the mid-off and the extra cover fielder for a much-needed boundary.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, No run.On a hard length on off. Shayan Jahangir blocks it back to the bowler.

Romario Shepherd to Shayan Jahangir, 2 runs.Back of a length, angled down the leg. Shayan Jahangir gets inside the line and helps it to fine leg for a couple.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, 2 runs.Flatter, angled into middle. Sikandar Raza tucks it through mid-wicket and scampers back for the second.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, No run.Tosses it full, spins away, around off. Sikandar Raza plays and gets beaten.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, No run.Three dots in a row! Flatter again, around off. Sikandar Raza punches it to extra cover.

Hassan Khan to Sikandar Raza, No run.Flatter, on off. Sikandar Raza pats it onto the pitch.