Cricholic
🔥 Hetmyer leads Orcas to a third consecutive victory
Hetmyer once again showed why he’s one of the most dangerous finishers in world T20 cricket, delivering an outstanding 78 off 37 balls* to take Seattle Orcas to their third straight win in MLC 2025. Chasing 168 against San Francisco Unicorns on a sluggish pitch in Lauderhill, Hetmyer paced his innings perfectly. As a result, he finished with a six and a four in the final over to seal a four-wicket win.
This win not only boosts Seattle’s position in the playoff race but also increases pressure on the mid-table teams. Meanwhile, the Unicorns’ slip-up opens the door for franchises like MI New York and LA Knight Riders, who now face must-win scenarios.
⚔️ Unicorns start strong but fade at the death
Batting first, San Francisco Unicorns were jolted early as Matthew Short fell in the opening over. Nevertheless, they recovered well thanks to Jake Fraser-McGurk’s brisk 35 and Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s powerful six-hitting in the middle overs.
Although Tim Seifert anchored the innings, he struggled to rotate strike. Consequently, the scoring rate dipped. Krishnamurthi’s dismissal by Waqar Salamkheil in the 15th over was a turning point. Following that, tight overs from Kyle Mayers and Gerald Coetzee allowed just seven runs across the 16th and 17th overs. However, a late charge from Seifert, Hassan Khan, and Romario Shepherd added 40 runs in the final three overs, lifting the Unicorns to a respectable 168/5.
💥 Hetmyer takes control after early damage
Seattle’s chase began on a cautious note. Yet they lost both openers—Steven Taylor and Kyle Mayers—to Xavier Bartlett early, limping to 31/2 after the PowerPlay.
To shift momentum, Shayan Jahangir launched a counterattack. He hammered 36 off 24 balls, including an 18-run over against Shepherd. Unfortunately for the Orcas, Jahangir and Sikandar Raza fell in the same over, leaving them at 76/4. Despite the setbacks, Hetmyer walked in with intent.
🚀 Hetmyer unleashes calculated aggression
Without wasting time, Hetmyer cleared the ropes three times in his first seven balls. Even though Heinrich Klaasen fell in the 13th over, the left-hander continued striking cleanly.
Moreover, he formed a crucial partnership with Aaron Jones. Together, they rotated the strike and punished loose balls. In the 16th over, Hetmyer launched Short for another six. Then in the 17th, despite Jones getting out, 15 runs off Plunkett’s over brought Seattle back into control.
🎯 Hetmyer finishes the job in style
With 30 needed off the last 3 overs, Hetmyer began the 18th with yet another six off Brody Couch. Although Couch fought back well, Coetzee’s boundary at the end helped keep the chase alive. The 19th over from Bartlett was tight, conceding just nine runs. As a result, Seattle needed 8 from the final 6 balls.
Romario Shepherd, who had leaked runs earlier, was handed the final over. The first ball was a dot. Nevertheless, Hetmyer struck the second delivery for a towering six over long-on. Then, he pierced the off-side with a crisp cut to complete the chase. The Orcas had won with three balls to spare.
📊 Brief Scorecard
🏆 Winner: Seattle Orcas won by 4 wickets
📅 Tournament: MLC 2025
🏟️ Venue: Lauderhill
🦄 San Francisco Unicorns: 168/5 in 20 overs
- Sanjay Krishnamurthi 41 (24)
- Jake Fraser-McGurk 35 (20)
- Ayan Desai 2/32
🐳 Seattle Orcas: 169/6 in 19.3 overs
- Shimron Hetmyer 78* (37)
- Shayan Jahangir 36 (24)
- Xavier Bartlett 2/24
🧨 Playoff equation heats up
Seattle’s victory puts them in a commanding position for a playoff berth. Meanwhile, MI New York and LA Knight Riders must win their remaining matches and rely on favorable outcomes to stay alive in MLC 2025.
If Hetmyer continues this form, Seattle Orcas could be serious title contenders heading into the final phase of the tournament.
