Caribbean batter Shimron Hetmyer is changing Seattle Orcas' fortune in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 single-handedly. For third consecutive match, Hetmyer turned out to be the finisher in the run chase for Seattle Orcas. He helped Sikandar Raza-led side best table-toppers San Francisco Unicorns with a four-wicket win in Lauderhill, Florida.
Seattle Orcas get key wickets
Raza won the toss and opted to bowl first. Harmeet Singh delivered with in-form Unicorns captain Matthew Short's wicket in the first over. In his next over, he was hit for three consecutive fours by Jake Fraser-McGurk. Aryan Desai got the breakthrough with Finn Alen's wicket in the sixth over. He scored 23 runs from 15 balls. Unicorns were 51/2 after powerplay overs. Raza introduced himself into the attack in the ninth over and got the wicket of Fraser-McGurk. He scored 35 runs from 22 balls.
ALSO READ: India, Pakistan to clash at Asia Cup 2025 stage on this date, neutral venue almost decided
Seifert couldn't get going
Sanjay Krishnamurthi launched an onslaught. He hit Waqar Salamkheil and Raza for two sixes each. Meanwhile, Tim Seifert struggled to find boundaries. It created pressure on Krishnamurthi who fell to Afghan spinner Salamkheil for a 28-ball 41. Seifert hit his first six off the 30th ball he faced. Kyle Mayers bowled a no-ball in the same over, and was punished by Hassan Khan with a six. In the final over, Desai dismissed Hassan for a 12-ball 14. Romario Shepherd arrived at the crease and hit a couple of sixes to take Unicorns' score to 168/5. Seifert played a disappointed knock of 37-ball 31 not out.
Horrible start for Seattle Orcas
Seattle Orcas' run chase got off to a poor start. Only four runs were scored off first two overs. Xavier Bartlett ended Steven Taylor for a 10-ball duck in the third over. Bartlett dismissed Mayers for a single-digit score as well. Seattle Orcas were 31/2 after powerplay overs. In the eighth over, Shayan Jahangir broke free as Shepherd bowled two no-balls. He hit two fours and a six to get Seattle Orcas past 50. Karim Gore was introduced into the attack in the 10th over. First, Raza was run out as Gore got his hand to the ball before hit the stumps at non-striker's end. On the next ball, Jahangir was knocked over for a 27-ball 36.
Hetmyer show all along
Hetmyer arrived at the crease when Seattle Orcas were 56/4 in 9.3 overs. He ended the over with a maximum. Hassan returned but erred against an in-form Hetmyer as he conceded two sixes. Shepherd came back into the attack and got rid of Heinrich Klaasen in the 13th over. Unicorns had a chance to run out Hetmyer but Seifert made an error in judgement. He replied with a six off next ball.
In the 17th over, Hetmyer hit a six to reach his fifty from 23 balls. In the same over, Liam Plunkett got the wicket of Jones with a short ball. 30 runs were required off last three overs. Hetmyer continued to lead the charge. On the last ball of the penultimate over, Gore dropped Hetmyer's catch at backward point. With eight runs required off last over, Hetmyer hit a monstrous six over long-on off Shepherd. Then, he ran a couple of runs to finish the run chase with four wickets in hand and three balls to spare. He remained unbeaten for 78 off 37 balls. His knock featured four fours and seven sixes.
Playoffs berth in sight
Seattle Orcas face Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings in their remaining two matches on July 4 and 5 respectively. They need to win at least one of the two games to book playoffs berth. Despite three consecutive wins, their net run rate (-1.316) is lower than MI New York (-0.714). MI New York and Los Angeles Knight Riders have one win each from seven games. However, they still have a chance to make it to the playoffs.