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Kiwi opener Finn Allen smashed a 53-ball 101 in San Francisco Unicorns' 10-run win over Texas Super Kings at Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas on July 27. Despite half-centuries from Devon Conway and Joshua Tromp, Super Kings could not chase down the target of 201. Corey Anderson-led San Francisco Unicorns will face Washington Freedom in the final of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 at the same venue on July 28.
Dropped catches cost Super Kings
Earlier, Super Kings skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to field first. Allen got an early reprieve as he was dropped by Noor Ahmad at point off Marcus Stoinis' bowling. Allen continued his onslaught in the powerplay overs. Jake Fraser-McGurk too used the fielding restrictions well. Unicorns were 66 for no loss after six overs. Allen reached his half-century from 26 balls. Noor got the breakthrough in the eighth over. Fraser-McGurk got caught at long-off for a 14-ball 18. In the same over, young Sanjay Krishnamurthi got bowled for a two-ball duck.
Allen hits ton
The double strike did not slow down Allen. In the 14th over, he reached his century with a six off 52 balls. But he got bowled by Mohammad Mohsin's wrong one next ball. His century was laced with nine sixes and five fours. In the next over, Sherfane Rutherford got caught and bowled by Noor. Josh Inglis and Hassan Khan went after the bowlers in the slog overs. In the penultimate over, Iglis lost his wicket to Stoinis. He scored 37 runs from 25 balls. In the final over, Hassan hit Ottneil Baartman for a couple of boundaries. Skipper Anderson could not finish well and departed for a single-digit score. But Hassan's 15-ball 27 cameo helped Unicorns post 200/6.
Blazing start for Super Kings
Super Kings' run chase got off to an ideal start. Du Plessis and Conway went after the bowlers. In the fourth over, Pat Cummins was unlucky as Du Plessis' two catches were dropped. He ended up conceding 19 runs from the over. Super Kings crossed the 50-run mark in the fourth over. Carmi le Roux ended Du Plessis' stay at the crease in the fifth over. He scored 45 runs from 22 balls. Aaron Hardie did not take much time and hit a few boundaries during fielding restrictions. Super Kings were 77/1 after powerplay overs. Juanoy Drysdale was introduced into the attack. Hardie fell for a 15-ball 19. Hassan and Drysdale pushed Super Kings on back foot. Hassan got Milind Kumar's wicket whereas Drysdale got rid of Stoinis.
Conway, Tromp’s fifties in vain
Conway ended the drought of boundaries in the 12th over with a six off Drysdale. Joshua Tromp and Conway tried to get the run chase back on track but the required run rate kept climbing. In the 17th over, Conway reached his fifty from 30 balls. Tromp and Conway remained unbeaten for 36-ball 56 and 38-ball 62 but it wasn't enough to take them home. Cummins managed to defend 18 runs in the last over easily as Unicorns won by 10 runs.
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