The Los Angeles Knight Riders boosted their push for the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 playoffs with an 11-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns in Dallas, a result that changed the top of the rankings for the second time on the day. With MI New York already in the top three, the Knight Riders found them and beat the table leaders. The victory took Los Angeles to 10 points, in line with San Francisco but behind the pace, while MI New York also has 10 points in third place. The race has been rocked repeatedly before Jason Holder and Andrew Russell produced match-winning performances with the ball to deny the Unicorns in the chase. Earlier, Los Angeles looked the route for more than 200 San Francisco players before striking back at the death. The Knight Riders were driven by Colin Munrowho hit 52 from 43 deliveries, and Andre Russell, whose 40 came from just 18 balls when he reached No. 3. Russell’s knock changed quickly before Munro linked another valuable partnership with Matthew Tromp, who narrowly missed out on seventy after making 49 from 28 balls. However, the innings lost momentum as Munro departed in the 14th over. San Francisco batted regularly in the final over, claiming four wickets while conceding just 38 runs in the last five overs to restrict the Knight Riders to 184 for 7. Haris Rauf was the top bowler with figures of 3 for 25, while Xavier Bartlett claimed two wickets. Despite falling behind late, Los Angeles got off to a good start with the ball. Holder dismantled the Unicorns’ top order by removing Finn Allen, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Sanjay Krishnamurthi during the Powerplay. Russell added to the damage by sacking Aaron Hardie with a catch-and-bowl opportunity as San Francisco went down to 42 for 4 in the fifth. Hassan Khan and captain Matthew Short rebuilt the innings with a 76-run partnership that revived the chase and managed the much-needed total. The breakthrough came in the early 14th over when Lloyd Pope dismissed Hassan Holder after taking a strong catch at extra cover. Ali Khan then removed Short in the first over before Shadley van Schalkwyk dismissed Xavier Bartlett, leaving the Unicorns with a mountain to climb. Hammad Azam they refused to give up, and started a spectacular uprising that gradually turned back to San Francisco. The all-rounder hit three sixes in the 17th over and continued to bat in the closing overs, bringing the equation down to 37 from the last three overs despite Russell removing Brody Couch at the other end. Azam’s decisive 40 off just 19 balls kept the contest alive as he smashed past Van Schalkwyk and Holder boundaries. But Holder delivered the blow by catching him lbw in the penultimate over. This has left the Unicorns needing 12 runs from the over with just one wicket in hand. Russell ensured there would be no dramatic finish, dismissing Haris Rauf and delivering the first over to seal a vital victory for the Knight Riders. Short scores: Los Angeles Knight Riders 184/7 in 20 overs (Colin Munro 52, Matthew Tromp 49, Andre Russell 40; Haris Rauf 3-25, Xavier Bartlett 2-24) defeated San Francisco Unicorns 173 in 19.1 overs (Hassan Khan Hamd 4, Hood 4, Azam 4-40, Andre Russell 3-42) by 11 runs.