Rovman Powell smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 15 balls to take Los Angeles Knight Riders into the MLC final, sealing a seven-run win over San Francisco Unicorns in Thursday’s Qualifier at Oakland. Matthew Short’s unbeaten 94 kept Unicorns in the hunt until the final over, but Powell’s late assault proved decisive.
Chasing 188, Unicorns lost both openers inside the first three balls of their innings. Sunil Narine struck twice in an over, removing Lhuan-dre Pretorius for a first-ball duck before Finn Allen edged behind without scoring. Short and Sanjay Krishnamurthi then rebuilt the innings with a 152-run stand for the third wicket, dragging Unicorns back into the contest and leaving them needing 36 off the last three overs.
Andre Russell broke that partnership by removing Krishnamurthi, playing his 600th T20 match in the process. He then bowled a tight 19th over that conceded just six runs, leaving Unicorns needing 18 off the final six balls. Hassan Khan launched a six to bring the equation down to nine off two deliveries, but Los Angeles held on to close out the win.
Powell’s Record-Breaking Cameo
Powell walked in late, with LAKR’s innings needing a push in the closing overs. He did not get to the middle until the 17th over, but made up for lost time immediately. He hit four consecutive sixes off Haris Rauf in the 19th over, then added two more against Xavier
Bartlett in the final over to bring up his fifty off just 15 balls — the fastest half-century recorded in this year’s tournament. His innings finished unbeaten on 50, built entirely around boundaries, with two fours and six sixes.
Russell’s Landmark Match
Russell’s contribution went beyond the numbers on the board. Playing his 600th T20 match, a milestone reached by only two other players before him, he scored 62 off 50 balls and put on a 96-run stand with Colin Munro for the second wicket. Munro contributed 51 off 44 balls in that partnership.
Russell’s knock gave LAKR the platform to post 187 for 3, and his bowling later in the Unicorns’ innings proved just as important, particularly his economical 19th over that squeezed the required rate out of reach.
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What Comes Next For Both Teams
Los Angeles Knight Riders now advance directly to the MLC final, having secured their place through the Qualifier. San Francisco Unicorns are not yet out of the tournament. They get a second opportunity to reach the final when they play the second Eliminator on Thursday, a match that will decide who joins Los Angeles in the summit clash.
For Unicorns, Short’s form will be central to that effort — his 94 not out came off 62 balls with ten fours and two sixes, and he was the one batter who stayed till the end. Krishnamurthi’s 65 off 47 balls also gave the innings direction before his dismissal shifted momentum back toward Los Angeles.
The result confirms Los Angeles Knight Riders as one of two teams through to the final, with their opponent to be decided once the Eliminator is played out at the same Oakland venue.
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