MLC 2025 | SFU vs WSF Match Preview: San Francisco look to continue unbeaten run in top-of-the-table clash

‌San Francisco Unicorns will meet Washington Freedom in a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash in Major League Cricket 2025 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Sunday. SFU are yet to taste defeat this season as they sit comfortably on top of the points table with 12 points from six matches while Washington are two points behind with five wins. San Francisco Unicorns have already qualified for the playoffs this year with Washington just one game away from ensuring their progression.

SFU have been dominant on both fronts this season with Finn Allen topping the run charts and Haris Rauf sitting on top of the pile for most wickets. The Kiwi batter has amassed 298 runs from five games at an impressive average of 59.60 and a strike rate of 246.28 while the Pakistan pacer has a tally of 16 wickets from six innings averaging 13.18 and striking at a frequency of 8.68 balls.

Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen is second in the overall batting charts, just 10 runs behind Allen only 10 runs, averaging 48.00 and striking at 211.76. The Aussie is also the joint-highest wicket-taker for Washington this season, alongside Ian Holland, with nine scalps from six matches.

Finn Allen was the star performer when both sides met in the first match of this season earlier this month with his swashbuckling 151 off just 51 balls blowing away Washington by 123 runs. The Kiwi batter had smashed 19 sixes and five fours during his innings that day as Washington will be wary not to concede the double to SFU.

Form Guide

SFU Form: WWWWW

WSF Form: WWWWW

SFU vs WSF head-to-head in MLC

It has been a close contest in the head-to-head match-up between SFU and WSF in the MLC with Washington winning three against San Francisco’s two in their five meetings. Washington won their maiden MLC title last year beating the same opponents but SFU prevailed in their only meeting this season by a massive 123-run margin in the opening game of the tournament. 

SFU 2 - 3 WSF

Pitch and Conditions

The Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas has consistently favoured the batters with five of the nine games held here this season seeing 200-plus scores being made by at least one team. With the last two matches being high-scoring thrillers, both sides are expected to continue the norm on Sunday when they meet in an afternoon match. The shorter boundaries and quick outfield, in addition to the flat track, have helped batters to score big, forcing captains to chase down targets with six of the nine games being won by sides batting second.

It will be a sunny and hot afternoon in Dallas with the temperatures expected to be around 36 degrees. The chances of rain are at 5% with the viewers expected to enjoy uninterrupted cricketing action.

Team News

Both San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom are expected to continue with the winning combination from their respective last games. 

SFU Expected XI

Matthew Short (c), Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Romario Shepherd, Xavier Bartlett, Jahmar Hamilton (wk), Haris Rauf, Carmi le Roux, Brody Couch

WSF Expected XI

Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell (c), Jack Edwards, Glenn Phillips, Obus Pienaar, Mukhtar Ahmed, Mark Adair, Ian Holland, Saurabh Netravalkar

Broadcasting Platforms 

The SFU vs WSF MLC 2025 match will be digitally streamed on the Jio Hotstar app and website in India with the telecast of the same on the Star Sports Network from 1:30 AM IST on Sunday.