Shimron Hetmyer continued his blistering run of form, hammering an unbeaten 78 off just 37 balls to help Seattle Orcas chase down 169 and clinch a dramatic four-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns. The result handed the Unicorns their second consecutive defeat after an impressive six-match winning streak.
Match Summary
San Francisco Unicorns: 168 for 5 (Krishnamurthi 41, Fraser-McGurk 35, Desai 2-32)
Seattle Orcas: 169 for 6 in 19.3 overs (Hetmyer 78*, Bartlett 2-24)
A Rocky Start to the Chase
The Orcas’ pursuit got off to a poor start. Xavier Bartlett removed Steven Taylor for a ten-ball duck and struck again to dismiss Kyle Mayers, leaving Seattle reeling. Although Shayan Jahangir and Sikandar Raza briefly steadied the innings with a 38-run partnership, both fell in quick succession as the chase threatened to unravel at 56 for 4 by the halfway mark.
Hetmyer’s Decisive Knock
That’s when Hetmyer took charge. Picking up where he left off in his previous knocks of 97* and 64*, he launched two sixes in his first three deliveries to immediately lift the scoring rate. Even as wickets tumbled at the other end, he maintained relentless aggression. He raised his half-century in just 23 balls, sending a straight six soaring down the ground.
With 30 runs required from the final three overs, Hetmyer tore into Brody Couch and Bartlett, reducing the target to just eight in the last over. He capped his innings by launching Romario Shepherd for a massive 102-meter six before calmly sealing the chase with a couple of runs and three balls remaining.
Unicorns’ Inning: A Promising Start That Fizzled
Earlier, Unicorns were put in to bat and lost Matthew Short early to Harmeet Singh. Jake Fraser-McGurk counterattacked with three consecutive boundaries, and Finn Allen added momentum as the pair put together 49 off 31 deliveries. Ayan Desai then struck at the end of the powerplay to remove Allen, and Raza followed up by dismissing Fraser-McGurk.
Sanjay Krishnamurthi was the standout for the Unicorns, smashing four sixes in a lively 41 off 28 balls. His efforts pushed the Unicorns to 94 for 3 at the halfway mark, but tight bowling from Seattle restricted the scoring in the next phase. Romario Shepherd’s late fireworks briefly lifted the total past 165, but it ultimately fell short once Hetmyer began his assault.
What It Means
For Seattle Orcas, this was a much-needed turnaround, marking their third consecutive victory after enduring five straight losses earlier in the tournament. The Unicorns, who looked nearly unbeatable with six wins in a row, now find themselves regrouping after back-to-back defeats.
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