By Tim Douglas 
The Seattle Orcas‘ playoff dreams burned brighter than ever as Shimron Hetmyer delivered another match-winning performance, guiding his team to a tense 4-wicket victory over the San Francisco Unicorns. The Caribbean powerhouse remained unbeaten on 78 off just 42 balls, marking his third straight game-deciding knock in as many outings.
Early Struggles, Late Fireworks
Chasing 169 on a rain-affected slow outfield, the Orcas stumbled to 56/4 by the halfway mark. Xavier Bartlett (2/24) removed both openers early before Karima Gore’s double-strike in the 9th over appeared to tilt the game. Enter Hetmyer, who announced his intent by smashing Gore for six off his second ball. What followed was a calculated assault – the left-hander targeted Hassan Khan for consecutive sixes before finishing the job with three balls to spare.
Unicorns’ Innings: Promise Unfulfilled
San Francisco’s innings never quite found top gear despite flashes of brilliance. Harmeet Singh struck gold immediately, dismissing in-form Matt Short for a duck. While Jake Fraser-McGurk (35 off 22) and Finn Allen (23 off 15) provided early spark, Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s 41 (28 balls) offered the only substantial resistance. Romario Shepherd’s last-over cameo (14* off 3) left fans wondering if his late arrival cost the Unicorns 15-20 crucial runs.
Playoff Picture Tightens
This victory propels the Orcas into strong contention for the final playoff spot, while the Unicorns’ back-to-back losses have dented their momentum. The teams face critical fixtures on July 4th – San Francisco meets Texas Super Kings in a must-win afternoon clash, while Seattle looks to extend their fairytale run in the evening game.
Match Summary
San Francisco Unicorns: 168/5 in 20 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 41, Jake Fraser-McGurk 35, Tim Seifert 31; Ayan Desai 32/2, Harmeet Singh 30/1, Waqar Salamkheil 27/1)
Seattle Orcas: 169/6 in 19.3 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 78*, Shayan Jahangir 36, Aaron Jones 14; Xavier Bartlett 24/2, Brody Couch 23/0, Liam Plunkett 26/1)
Result: Seattle Orcas beat San Francisco Unicorns by 4 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Anas Ahmed