The Texas Super Kings advanced to the playoffs of the inaugural season of Major League Cricket after a three-wicket win over the San Francisco Unicorns in their fifth and final league phase game at the Church Street Park in Morrisville, North Carolina on Monday.
The Unicorns won the toss in the winner-take-all encounter and decided to bat first.
Matthew Wade led the way with 49 while Chaitanya Bishnoi made 35 as the Unicorns posted 171-8 off their 20 overs.
Pacer Gerald Coetzee took 4-31 off his four overs for the Super Kings.
Texas then reached 172-7 with five balls to spare.
Milind Kumar set the foundation for the successful chase with a 42-ball 52 before Daniel Sams hit a whirlwind 18-ball 42 including two fours and four sixes to help seal qualification to the playoffs.
Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan each took a pair of wickets for the Unicorns.
The Seattle Orcas, Texas Super Kings and Washington Freedom have all confirmed their spots in the playoffs.
The final spot will be determined on Tuesday when the Orcas face MI New York. MI New York and San Francisco both have four points with New York ahead on net run rate. MI New York would seal their spot in the playoffs with a win or by avoiding a heavy defeat. If they lose by at least 130 runs, they would finish fifth and the Unicorns would advance.
New Zealander, Corey Anderson, hit an unbeaten 91 to help the San Francisco Unicorns open their 2023 Major League Cricket campaign with a 22-run victory over MI New York at Grand Prairie Stadium on Friday.
Anderson’s knock came off 52 balls and included four fours and seven sixes to help the Unicorns post a formidable 215-5 from their 20 overs after winning the toss.
It was an excellent recovery for the Unicorns who were reeling at 50-4 after seven overs before a crucial 129-run fifth wicket partnership between Anderson and Pakistani all rounder Shadab Khan. Khan made a rapid 30-ball 61 including four fours and five sixes.
Pacers Trent Boult and Kagiso Rabada took 2-38 and 2-32, respectively.
MI New York then made a solid effort to chase down their target, eventually finishing 193-5 from their 20 overs.
Tim David led the way with an unbeaten 53 off 28 balls while Captain Pollard contributed 48 and Pooran hit 40.
Former England pacer, Liam Plunkett, took 2-30 for the Unicorns.
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