The Los Angeles Knight Riders made history on Wednesday by reaching the finals of Major League Cricket (MLC) after defeating the San Francisco Unicorns by seven runs in Qualifier 1 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland.Aided by half-centuries from Colin Munro, Andre Russell and a late blitz from Rowman PowellLAKR posted 187/3 before a strong chase led by Matthew Short and Sanjay Krishnamurthi.Despite the loss, the San Francisco Unicorns are still alive in the playoffs. They now play the Challenger against the winner of the Eliminator for the final spot.
Munro, Russell laid the platform
Asked to bat first after San Francisco Unicorns won the toss, Los Angeles Knight Riders dismissed Andre Fletcher for seven in just the second hour.Colin Munro strengthened the innings by making 51 off 44 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes. He shared the crucial 96-wicket stand with Andre Russell, who set up the innings with an unbeaten 62 off 50.A big change came in the last overs when Rovman Powell came in. The West Indies batsman smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 15 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes at a staggering 333.33.Powell and Russell added an unbeaten 57 runs in just 19 overs to lift LAKR to a challenging 187/3 in 20 overs.For the Unicorns, Ghulam Mudassar took 2/42, while captain Matthew Short picked up one wicket.
Narine strikes early but Short keeps the Unicorns alive
The San Francisco Unicorns had a bad run of offense. Sunil Narine dismissed both Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Finn Allen in the opening three, reducing the Unicorns to 1/2.Captain Matthew Short then built the innings alongside Sanjay Krishnamurthi. The pair added a superb partnership of 151, bringing the chase back.Short remained unbeaten on 94 from 62 balls, scoring 10 fours and two sixes, while Krishnamurthi made a brilliant 65 off 47 balls with six boundaries and three sixes.However, Shadley van Schalkwyk removed Krishnamurthi in the 18th over before removing Aaron Hardie late in the innings. The wickets were decisive as the Unicorns finished on 180/4, down seven overs.Narine returned the score with 2/28, while van Schalkwyk also claimed two wickets.
Powell was named Player of the Match
Powell was named Player of the Match for his explosive fifty.Reflecting on his knock, Powell said he still rated the previous innings.“I still think 73 at Pomona is a great place. Today was a little fun, you know, the fans got their money’s worth.He credited Munro and Russell for setting up the innings.“Yeah, we talk all the time as a batting group and say we don’t want to lose wickets in the squad. All the lads batting at the top of the order, number three, and Dre, they played really well. They set the stage for me to go and do what I’m doing. Like I say, it’s good to be in the final. The lads have played good cricket all round.”About hitting the tough spot, Powell added: “I just felt good. And by the time I hit, I had no choice but to do what I did. But it’s better to take a few off the bat, from the middle. As a batsman, you always look to play this kind of innings. “At the end of the first MLC of the franchise, Powell said: “Yes, it means everything. It is a franchise that did not qualify for the playoffs, and now we are at the end, one step away from our main goal. It is up to us now to take tomorrow to rest, to prepare, to see how the game is going today, and to see how we can take it out well and put ourselves in a few days.”
