Unicorns’ Opening Onslaught Sinks Super Kings, Outshining Du Plessis’ Magnificent Century
San Francisco Unicorns delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Texas Super Kings by seven wickets in the latest MLC 2025 fixture. While Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis registered a superb individual century, it was the **explosive opening partnership** from the Unicorns’ Finn Allen and Matthew Short that ultimately proved decisive, securing the win with significant overs to spare and maintaining their dominant position atop the league standings.
Chasing a target of 199, the San Francisco Unicorns’ response was immediate and overwhelming. Openers Finn Allen and Matthew Short launched an astounding assault that effectively **rendered the chase almost a formality**. Short initially dominated, racing to 33 off 16 balls before Allen found his rhythm. What followed was a breathtaking display of power hitting, with the pair plundering runs at an extraordinary pace. They finished the Powerplay at a stunning **83 without loss**, setting a blistering foundation.
This explosive start continued, building a formidable **117-run partnership** before Matthew Short was the first to depart, dismissed after compiling a blistering **61 off just 29 deliveries**. Finn Allen carried on the charge, compiling a superb **78 off 35 deliveries** before being removed by the commendable Adam Milne. By the time Allen departed, the Unicorns were just 30 runs shy of victory with plenty of overs in hand. Jake Fraser-McGurk then calmly guided the team home with a valuable 37 off 25 balls, sealing the **seven-wicket victory with 23 balls remaining**.
Earlier, batting first, the Texas Super Kings posted a competitive total of 198 for 5, primarily thanks to a **stellar innings from captain Faf du Plessis**. Du Plessis anchored their effort, crafting a magnificent **100 runs off just 51 deliveries**, an innings punctuated by six boundaries and seven sixes at a striking rate of 200. This was his first fifty-plus score since April, highlighting his return to form.
However, support for du Plessis was inconsistent. While he shared significant stands – a 97-run opening partnership with Devon Conway and a 69-run stand with Saiteja Mukkamalla – his partners struggled for fluency at times. Devon Conway contributed a relatively slow 23 off 23 balls, and although Mukkamalla added a quicker 38, a late cluster of wickets, including Mukkamalla, du Plessis himself, and Marcus Stoinis, thanks to effective spells from Xavier Bartlett (2-31) and Haris Rauf (2-34), prevented Super Kings from reaching a potentially more challenging target exceeding 200.
Ultimately, while Faf du Plessis produced an innings of exceptional quality, it was the **collective firepower and breathtaking pace of the Unicorns’ top order** that proved the decisive factor. Their comprehensive victory sends a strong statement, keeping them **undefeated with four wins from four** and comfortably at the top of the MLC 2025 table, while inflicting the Super Kings’ first loss of the season.
