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Siddle, Pretorius, Short lead Unicorns to comfortable win

Ali Naseer · 21/06/2026 · 4 min read

San Francisco Unicorns Secure First Victory of the Season

The Major League Cricket (MLC) season witnessed a masterclass in disciplined cricket as the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) registered an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Texas Super Kings (TSK). A complete team performance with both ball and bat ensured SFU cruised to their target with 13 balls to spare. The foundation of this victory was laid by an exceptional bowling display before the top-order batsmen clinically finished the job.

Siddle and Mudassar Set the Tone Early

After being sent in to bowl, the San Francisco Unicorns’ bowling unit justified the decision immediately. Ghulam Mudassar, Peter Siddle, and Brody Crouch delivered a sensational opening spell that completely tied down the Texas Super Kings during the powerplay. The pitch offered plenty of assistance, and the SFU pace bowlers made full use of it, bowling tight lines and lengths to frustrate the TSK batsmen.

TSK found themselves in deep trouble early on, losing three crucial wickets within the first six overs. Mudassar struck first, followed by Siddle and Crouch, with each claiming a wicket to leave the Super Kings reeling. The tight bowling restricted TSK to just 43 runs for the loss of three wickets at the end of the powerplay. It was a disciplined effort that set the tone for the rest of the innings, forcing TSK into a defensive shell from which they struggled to break free.

Ashwin’s Debut and Short’s Spin Control

The match also marked the highly anticipated MLC debut of veteran offspinner R Ashwin. Playing his first competitive match since July 2025, Ashwin came on to bowl the fourth over of the innings. His debut was a quiet and mixed affair. TSK’s Milind Kumar welcomed him by hitting his first and fifth balls of the over for huge sixes, taking the attack to the veteran. Ashwin bowled just one more over to finish with figures of 0 for 24. Despite the tough start, Ashwin was able to celebrate a victorious debut with his team.

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While Ashwin had a quieter outing, fellow offspinner and SFU captain Matthew Short enjoyed an outstanding day with the ball. Short read the conditions perfectly and introduced himself to squeeze the middle order. He bowled with superb control, picking up 2 wickets for just 25 runs in his four-over quota. Short’s ability to restrict the runs and take wickets in the middle overs prevented TSK from building any real momentum.

TSK Collapse and Viljoen’s Late Resurgence

Rilee Rossouw looked like the only TSK batsman capable of mounting a serious recovery. Rossouw played a fighting knock of 36 runs off 29 deliveries, trying to steady the innings. However, just as he was threatening to break free, a disastrous run-out cut his innings short, leaving TSK in further disarray. To make matters worse, Siddle dismissed Wiaan Mulder just two balls later, leaving the Super Kings in a precarious position at 82 for 6 in the 12th over.

With the top and middle order back in the pavilion, it looked like TSK would fail to cross the 120-run mark. However, No. 9 batsman Hardus Viljoen played a brilliant counter-attacking cameo. Viljoen smashed an unbeaten 33 off just 24 deliveries, providing much-needed impetus to the innings. His late-order fireworks helped TSK post a respectable, albeit modest, total of 152 for 9 in their 20 overs. Siddle finished as the pick of the bowlers for SFU, returning impressive figures of 3 for 36.

Pretorius and Short Masterclass in the Chase

Chasing 153 for victory, the San Francisco Unicorns’ chase was never in doubt. Despite losing an early wicket, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and captain Matthew Short put on a batting masterclass. The duo compiled a devastating 82-run partnership for the second wicket off just 47 deliveries, completely taking the game away from the Texas Super Kings.

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Pretorius was the star of the show, anchoring the innings with a brilliant, unbeaten 69 off 55 balls. He mixed caution with aggression, hitting boundaries while rotating the strike efficiently. Short supported him superbly with a quickfire 31, ensuring that the run rate remained well under control. By the time Short was dismissed, the foundation had been firmly laid, and victory was a mere formality.

A Labored Finish to a Comfortable Win

Following the dismissal of Matthew Short, SFU’s progress towards the target became somewhat laborious. The incoming batsmen found it difficult to find the boundaries as TSK bowlers tried to dry up the runs. SFU took 55 balls to score their final 64 runs, showing a more conservative approach to ensure there were no further slip-ups. Despite the slow finish, there was never any real alarm or threat of a collapse. Pretorius remained unbeaten till the end, guiding his team across the finish line in the 18th over to secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory.

Ali Naseer

Ali Naseer is a senior sports correspondent for The News International, known for his authoritative coverage of Pakistan cricket and his razor‑sharp technical analysis. A graduate of the University of Karachi, he began his career documenting club cricket in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the Northern Areas, bringing to light the raw fast‑bowling talent that has become Pakistan’s hallmark. Ali’s work now spans global ICC tournaments and every edition of the Pakistan Super League, where he is a familiar face in the press box. He combines an intimate knowledge of the domestic structure with an ability to break down high‑pressure match situations for a national readership. His columns on the art of reverse swing and the history of Pakistani pace bowlers have become essential reading for fans. Twice honoured by the APNS and his own paper, Ali remains dedicated to telling the stories of the players and places that keep Pakistan cricket alive.