San Francisco Unicorns vs. Washington Freedom, 20th Match, MLC 2024 Preview, Playing 11, Pitch Report, and Live Streaming Details

In the twentieth match of the 2024 Major League Series, the San Francisco Unicorns will take on the Washington Freedom.  Unicorns are coming off a 6-wicket win over the Seattle Orcas, while the team Freedom is coming off a 42-run victory over the Texas Super Kings. Both teams have qualified for the playoffs and will likely meet at the first qualifier.

MLC 2024 Match 20, Details and Head-to-Heads

The match will begin on July 23 at 6:00 AM IST in India and July 22 at 7:30 pm local time in the USA. The last time they met, the Freedom defeated the Super Kings. The last time they faced each other, Freedom defeated the Unicorns.

San Francisco Unicorns vs. Washington Freedom MLC 2024 Match 20, Squad News

San Francisco Unicorns

Considering the recent performance and the upcoming playoff matches, Josh Inglis could be promoted to open the innings alongside Finn Allen to ensure top-order stability. This adjustment could provide a solid start, allowing Matthew Short to move to the middle order, where his ability to anchor the innings could be more valuable if early wickets fall. Secondly, reinforcing the middle order with Jake Fraser-McGurk could add stability and depth. Fraser-McGurk can replace Sanjay Krishnamurthi, offering a more reliable option in the middle overs. His inclusion could help the team maintain momentum and build partnerships through the middle stages of the innings. Thirdly, enhancing the bowling attack with the inclusion of Matt Henry could provide more control and wicket-taking options. Henry can replace Carmi le Roux, bringing in his experience and ability to perform in crucial situations. His presence could strengthen both the powerplay and death overs, ensuring a balanced bowling lineup.

The Unicorns should focus on an aggressive opening partnership, utilizing Finn Allen and Josh Inglis to set a fast pace and establish a strong foundation. In the middle order, the combination of Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk should aim to build partnerships and stabilize the innings if needed. Bowling variations will be crucial, with a mix of pace and spin to maintain pressure on the opposition. Matt Henry and Haris Rauf should be key players in both the powerplay and death overs. Finally, emphasizing sharp fielding can save crucial runs and provide essential support to the bowlers, enhancing overall team performance.

Washington Freedom

Considering Washington Freedom’s recent performance and the upcoming playoff matches, promoting Rachin Ravindra to the batting order could prove beneficial. Ravindra has shown potential and can be more effective if given more time at the crease. Promoting him to bat at number three can provide stability after the opening pair and capitalize on the powerplay momentum. Second, including Akeal Hosein for Amila Aponso can add variety and additional wicket-taking options, especially in the middle overs where containment is crucial. Hosein’s left-arm orthodox spin can be a valuable asset against teams with several right-handed batsmen. Finally, consider strengthening the lower middle order by including a more aggressive batsman like Justin Dill or Jack Edwards to replace Mukhtar Ahmed. This change can provide more firepower in the final overs, ensuring a strong finish to the innings.

For the powerplay, Freedom should adopt an aggressive approach to maximize runs and set a strong foundation for the middle order. Utilize the top order aggressively, ensuring a high run rate in the initial overs. In the middle overs, focus on maintaining a good run rate while avoiding the loss of wickets. Glenn Maxwell and Obus Pienaar should anchor the innings if early wickets fall, providing stability and building partnerships. When it comes to bowling, use Akeal Hosein and Rachin Ravindra in tandem to create pressure and take wickets in the middle overs. Their variations can unsettle the batsmen and curb the scoring rate. Reserve Lockie Ferguson and Jasdeep Singh for the death overs, where their pace and accuracy can limit the opposition’s scoring opportunities.

San Francisco vs Washington MLC 2024 Match 20, Possible Playing Eleven

San Francisco Unicorns: Finn Allen, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Short, Sherfane Rutherford, Corey Anderson (c), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Hassan Khan, Pat Cummins, Haris Rauf, Matt Henry, Brody Couch

Washington Freedom

Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Rachin Ravindra, Andries Gous (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Obus Pienaar, Justin Dill/Jack Edwards, Marco Jansen, Akeal Hosein, Lockie Ferguson, Jasdeep Singh

MLC 2024 Match 20, Pitch Report and Weather Conditions

Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, features a balanced pitch that offers opportunities for both batsmen and bowlers. The pitch provides good bounce and carry, particularly favoring pacers early in the match. The forecast of rainy weather could impact the game, influencing team strategies and the condition of the pitch. In the last five T20 matches at this venue, the average score has been 164, with a total of 69 wickets taken—35 by pacers and 34 by spinners. Historically, teams winning the toss have opted to bat first 90% of the time, and teams bowling first have won 55.56% of the matches.

Considering the pitch conditions and recent match statistics, the team winning the toss might prefer to bat first to take advantage of the balanced nature of the pitch before any weather disruptions. The ability of pacers to extract bounce and carry will be crucial, and a balanced attack featuring both pace and spin will be key. The performances of the highlighted players will be pivotal, potentially determining the outcome of this competitive match.

MLC 2024 Match 20, Players to Watch Out For

San Francisco Unicorns

Matthew Short is a dynamic all-rounder known for his aggressive batting and useful off-spin bowling. His ability to score quickly at the top of the order makes him a vital player for the Unicorns. Pat Cummins, one of the world’s premier fast bowlers, can exploit the pitch conditions with his pace and bounce, making early inroads into the opposition’s batting lineup. Fabian Allen, a versatile all-rounder, provides depth in both batting and bowling. His left-arm spin and powerful hitting in the lower order can be game-changing for the Unicorns.

Washington Freedom

Travis Head, an aggressive left-handed batsman, can score quickly and build partnerships at the top of the order, which will be crucial for Washington Freedom. Glenn Maxwell, known for his explosive batting and handy off-spin, is a game-changer in the middle overs. His all-round capabilities make him a key player to watch. Lockie Ferguson, a fast bowler with express pace, can bowl quick and accurate spells, especially in the powerplay and death overs, making him a significant threat to any batting lineup.

San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom MLC 2024 Match 20, LIVE Telecast and LIVE Streaming Details

Where to Watch MLC 2024 in India?

Fans in India can watch the game on JioCinema, the Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD, and Sony Sports Ten 5 SD & HD channels.

Where to Watch MLC 2024 in the USA?

Fans in the USA can watch the match on Willow by Cricbuzz, YES Network.