Young Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk roared back in form after several disappointing scores. Fraser-McGurk who scored just 55 runs from six innings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for Delhi Capitals (DC) was dropped from the T20I squad. He did not return to India when IPL 2025 resumed. On his return to field, he scored just six runs from nine balls in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 opening encounter. Now, Fraser-McGurk has broken the shackles with an 38-ball 88 laced with 11 sixes and just two fours to help San Francisco Unicorns beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by 32 runs.
Fraser-McGurk, Allen put on a show
Los Angeles Knight Riders captain Sunil Narine won the toss and opted to bowl first at Oakland Coliseum, California. Seifert walked out to bat in the second over as Tim Seifert fell for a single-digit score to Shadley van Schalkwyk. Centurion of previous game, Finn Allen carried forward his form. In the fifth over, Fraser-McGurk hit van Schalkwyk for four consecutive sixes. After powerplay overs, San Francisco Unicorns were 76/1. The young Aussie did not attack Narine straight away. In his second over, he hit a six to reach his half-century from 21 balls.
Fraser-McGurk misses century
The six-hitting continued from both ends. Allen got to his fifty from 25 balls. He was dismissed by Narine in the 11th over for a 27-ball 52. Fraser-McGurk and Allen shared a 121-run partnership from 54 balls. In the next over Sanjay Krishnamurthi departed after scoring 12 runs from seven balls. In the 13th over, Fraser-McGurk took on Matthew Tromp, whacking him for three sixes. In the end, van Schalkwyk got the prized wicket. Fraser-McGurk departed for a 38-ball 88. When he was dismissed, the score was 167/4 from 13.3 overs. In the slog overs, San Francisco Unicorns lost four wickets and managed to post 219/8 on the board.
Knight Riders fail in run chase
In the run chase, Los Angeles Knight Riders lost both openers Andre Fletcher and Alex Hales cheaply. Unmukt Chand hit four fours and as many sixes in his 32-ball 53. Xavier Bartlett and Haris Rauf claimed four wickets each. In the end, Narine's 13-ball 27 cameo was not enough. Los Angeles Knight Riders were bowled out for 187 in 19.5 overs. They lost their opening game by 32 runs.
Two big wins for Unicorns
This was San Francisco Unicorns's second win on the trot. They are at the top of the points table.
"It's been a while I have got runs in this format, it's about contributing to the side and I'm happy. (On the coaching staff) Can't thank them enough, they have been working hard and it's amazing. Quite lucky that it's (the ground) not very big, good conditions I guess," 'Player of the match' Fraser-McGurk said in the post-match presentation.