Franchise Cricket

Image source, Major League Cricket

Trent Boult played a leading hand as MI New York clinched a tense two-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns in the Major League Cricket play-offs.

Left-arm Kiwi quick Boult took 2-19 to help bowl the Unicorns out for 131 but it was his heroics with the bat in the Eliminator match which proved crucial.

MI had been cruising at 92-3 after Monank Patel and Quinton de Kock both made 33 to get the chase off to a brisk start.

However, they lost five wickets for 16 runs to slump to 108-8 as Hassan Khan claimed 4-30 and Matthew Shot bagged 3-22 for the Unicorns.

With 3.1 overs remaining Boult smacked two sixes in his 13-ball 22 to put New York within touching distance of the target.

Nosthush Kenjige then hit the winning run to seal a tense victory with three balls to spare at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas.

Earlier, the Unicorns had battled back after they had been reduced to 16-5 by Boult and Kenjige, who took 2-43.

Australian duo Cooper Connolly and Xavier Bartlett made 23 and 44 respectively for the Unicorns, while Rushil Ugarkar claimed 3-19 for MI, but the day belonged to Boult.

"Everyone jokes about my batting but it was obviously nice to contribute," said the New Zealander.

Following their victory in the eliminator match MI will now face Texas Super Kings in the Qualifier 2 match for the right to face defending MLC champions Washington Freedom in the final.

Major League Cricket play-off schedule

All matches start at 01:00 BST

Saturday, 11 July: Qualifier 2 - Texas Super Kings v MI New York

Monday, 14 July: Final - Washington Freedom v Winner of Qualifier 2

Image source, SA20

Defending champions MI Cape Town will face Durban's Super Giants in the opening game of the SA20 on 26 December.

It was already known that the fourth edition of the tournament would be brought forward to avoid a clash with the T20 World Cup that is due to take place in February and March in India and Sri Lanka.

The 30-match group stage runs until 19 January, before the four knockout matches, with the final on 25 January.

The tournament with overlap in part with Australia's Big Bash League, which will run between 21 November and 7 January, and the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates from 2 December to 4 January.

Retained players and pre-signings are expected to be announced in the next couple of months before the auction, where teams will complete their squad, on 9 September.

• Full SA20 season four schedule, external

Image source, Major League Cricket

Washington Freedom have qualified the final of Major League Cricket after their play-off match with Texas Super Kings was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

The Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas was hit by heavy rain and with no prospect of play the match was called off at 21:45 CDT (03:45 BST).

Freedom, who bidding to win back-to-back MLC titles, progress to the final having finished top of the table during the league stage.

The Super Kings will get a second chance to reach the final when they face the winners of the eliminator match between MI New York and San Francisco Unicorns.

Major League Cricket play-off schedule

All matches start at 01:00 BST

Friday, 10 July: Eliminator - MI New York v San Francisco Unicorns

Saturday, 11 July: Qualifier 2 - Texas Super Kings v Winner of Eliminator

Monday, 14 July: Final - Washington Freedom v Winner of Qualifier 2

Image source, Getty Images

Trent Rockets have named David Willey and Ash Gardner as captain of their men's and women's teams respectively.

Former England all-rounder Willey, 35, replaces Lewis Gregory as captain for his first season at Trent Bridge.

Australia's Gardner takes over from England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who stepped down from the role to manage her workload.

Gardner, 28, joined the Rockets for her first taste of The Hundred last year, finishing as both the side's second-highest run-scorer and leading wicket-taker.

"Playing for the Rockets last year was so much fun and it will be incredible this year to lead the team," said Gardner.

"Taking over from Nat is an honour, and we have a great squad this year so I'm really excited to get going as captain."

Trent Rockets' first fixtures are against Birmingham Phoenix on 8 August. Both the men's and women's side finished fifth last season.

Image source, International League T20

England opener Phil Salt and all-rounder Sam Curran have been retained for the fourth season of the International League T20, while Liam Livingstone, Luke Wood and Chris Woakes have also been signed.

Curran, who finished as the fifth-highest run-scorer last year and averaged 55.28, remains at Desert Vipers after being named player of the tournament.

Salt averaged 37.50 in three matches and stays with Abu Dhabi Knight Riders alongside West Indies' Andre Russell and Sunil Narine.

All-rounder Livingstone is also part of the Knight Riders squad, as is Alex Hales who has moved from Vipers.

Tom Banton, who finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 493 last year, will stay at MI Emirates and be joined by Woakes, who played for Sharjah Warriorz in 2024.

Left-arm seamer Wood has played for Vipers before but is set to represent Dubai Capitals alongside Shai Hope and Rovman Powell of West Indies.

The fourth season of the ILT20 will run from 2 December to 4 January.

Player retentions for season four

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine.

Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Rovman Powell and Shai Hope.

Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince and Mark Adair.

MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem.

Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore.

New signings for season four

Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford.

Desert Vipers: Andries Gous.

Dubai Capitals: Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil and Muhammad Jawadullah.

Gulf Giants: Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

MI Emirates: Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis.

Sharjah Warriorz: Maheesh Theekshana, Sikandar Raza, Saurabh Netravalkar and Tim David.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Defending champions Washington Freedom secured a top-two finish in Major League Cricket with a six-wicket win over MI New York.

In a match reduced to 18 overs per side Freedom chased 113 with 18 balls to spare.

Andries Gous made an unbeaten 46 off 34 balls, while New Zealand's Mark Chapman hit 27 off 18.

Earlier, Glenn Maxwell took 3-27 as New York were restricted to 112-8, with Kunwarjeet Singh top-scoring with 33.

Elsewhere, Los Angeles Knight Riders denied San Francisco Unicorns a top-two finish with an 11-run win.

Andre Fletcher (118 off 58 balls) smashed his second century of the season as Knight Riders posted 243-3.

He shared 94 with Alex Hales (58 off 26) and 97 with Sherfane Rutherford (49 off 28).

It meant that Unicorns finished third, having lost three of their final four games.

Major League Cricket play-off schedule

All matches start at 01:00 BST

Wednesday, 9 July: Qualifier 1 - Texas Super Kings v Washington Freedom

Thursday, 10 July: Eliminator - MI New York v San Francisco Unicorns

Saturday, 11 July: Qualifier 2 - Loser of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Eliminator

Monday, 14 July: Final - Winner of Qualifier 1 v Winner of Qualifier 2

Image source, Major League Cricket

Faf du Plessis selflessly retired out nine runs short of a third century in this year's Major League Cricket as his Texas Super Kings side thrashed Seattle Orcas by 51 runs.

The veteran South African had hammered 84 off 43 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes, but suddenly started to struggle to find the boundary.

A sequence of seven runs off his next nine deliveries prompted Du Plessis to walk off at the end of the 19th over on 91 having seemingly run out of steam at the Broward County Stadium in Florida.

As it happened the Super Kings only managed another seven runs off the last six balls as they posted 188-4 with Shubham Ranjane unbeaten on 65 from 41 balls.

Seattle lost former Australia opener David Warner, bowled by Adam Milne for nine, early in their response as Kyle Mayers' 35 off 28 balls gave them a platform of sorts.

However, a number of the Orcas' middle failed to build on promising starts with Shimron Hetmyer (26 off 16 balls) unable to perform the kind of heroics which had propelled them to three wins in their last four matches.

Akeal Hosein, who removed the dangerous Hetmyer, and Noor Ahmad stifled the Seattle middle order with two wickets apiece.

Milne then returned to bowl the Orcas out for 137 in the 19th over as he claimed 5-23 - the Kiwi's first five-wicket haul in MLC and his third overall in domestic T20 cricket.

Super Kings moved into top spot in the MLC standings on 14 points, level with Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns but having played a game more.

Image source, MLC

San Francisco Unicorns held onto top spot in the Major League Cricket (MLC) standings after edging Texas Super Kings by one run in a low-scoring encounter in Lauderhill.

Matthew Short produced a captain's knock to anchor Unicorns' innings, rescuing his side from 19-3 in the final over of the powerplay to 148-6.

Batting from ball one, he was eventually dismissed off the final ball of the innings for 80 (63). Romario Shepherd, batting at six, supported him with 40 off 25.

Regular wickets disrupted Texas Super Kings' chase, with Shepherd striking twice in the penultimate over to break a dangerous 55-run stand between Donovan Ferreira (39 off 20) and Shubman Ranjane (28 off 27).

With 13 runs required off the last over, two fours from Mohammad Mohsin helped reduce the equation to three off one ball.

However, Super Kings could only grab a single, with Calvin Savage run out as he searched for a second run to tie the game.

Defending champions Washington Freedom capitalised on Super Kings' defeat to climb back into second place, thrashing Seattle Orcas by eight wickets.

After slumping to 19-5 in the powerplay, Orcas were bowled out for 82, with Heinrich Klaasen (48 off 39) the only batter to reach double figures. Glenn Maxwell picked up 3-12.

Freedom completed their chase with 64 balls to spare, with Mukhtar Ahmed (36 off 21) and Rachin Ravindra (32 off 23) the standout contributors.

Unicorns, who had lost their past two matches, lead Freedom, who also have 14 points, on net run-rate, with Super Kings two points back in third place.

MI New York could climb above Seattle Orcas and into fourth place with victory over bottom side Los Angeles Knight Riders on Saturday (5 July).

Image source, Major League Cricket

Trent Boult claimed 4-17 before Nicholas Pooran hit an unbeaten 62 as MI New York cruised to an eight-wicket win over LA Knight Riders in Major League Cricket's basement battle.

Left-arm Kiwi quick Boult captured four of LA's top order as they were restricted to 154-8 from their 20 overs at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill, Florida.

Sherfane Rutherford was the only batter to make an impact for the Knight Riders as he whacked six sixes and five fours in his 44-ball 86 before he too was dismissed by Boult.

Kieron Pollard stifled LA's hopes of boosting their total late on as the veteran Trinidadian franchise star bagged the wickets of his old West Indies team-mates Rovman Powell and Jason Holder en route to 2-15.

Sunil Narine (1-26) removed the dangerous Quinton de Kock for 11 to give LA hope at the start of MI's chase.

But once Pooran overcame an uncharacteristically circumspect start, and settled in alongside Monank Patel, the total looked a formality for New York .

The pair shared a 112-run stand for the second wicket before USA captain Patel chipped Andre Russell (1-43) into the hands of Powell at mid-off for a 44-ball 56.

Pooran hit six fours and two sixes in his 47-ball knock as he and Pollard, who clubbed two sixes in his 14 not out, got MI over the line with 13 balls to spare.

With just one victory Knight Riders are bottom of the MLC standings with MI two points above them in fifth following just their second win of the season.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Texas Super Kings leapfrogged Washington Freedom into second place in the Major League Cricket standings with a 43-run victory over the defending champions.

In a rain-affected meeting in Lauderhill, Donovan Ferreira struck an unbeaten nine-ball 37, including hitting Mitch Owen for three consecutive sixes, as Super Kings posted an imposing 87-2 from their five overs.

South Africa international Ferreira shared a 53-run third-wicket stand off 12 balls with Shubham Ranjane (39 not out off 14) after Super Kings lost captain Marcus Stoinis inside two balls and retired Daryl Mitchell out at the end of the third over.

Washington Freedom's chase of 88 never gained momentum, with Nandre Burger striking twice in the first over to remove Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Maxwell before Akeal Hosein dismissed Owen in the second.

Glenn Phillips' unbeaten 18 (11) was the top score as Freedom posted 44-4.

San Francisco Unicorns, Texas Super Kings, and Washington Freedom, who each have two group matches remaining, are level on 12 points and separated only by net run rate.

Seattle Orcas (six points) occupy the final playoff spot and are four points clear of MI New York and Los Angeles Knight Riders.

Image source, Getty Images

Perth Scorchers, the most successful side in Big Bash League history, will start the 2025-26 season against Sydney Sixers on 14 December.

The full schedule was announced on Thursday with the 57-match league phase running until 18 January.

The knockouts start on 20 January, with the final due to take place on 25 January.

The tournament will overlap with the men's Ashes between England and Australia, which runs from 21 November to 7 January.

All-rounder Jamie Overton is likely the only England player who may have to juggle commitments, but they may opt to release him to play in the Big Bash before February's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

Hobart Hurricanes are the defending champions after a seven-wicket win over Sydney Thunder in last year's final.

The schedule for the women's tournament, which runs before the men's competition, is yet to be announced.

It is likely to start shortly after the conclusion of the women's 50-over World Cup on 2 November.

• Full Big Bash League 2025-26 schedule, external

Image source, Major League Cricket

Shimron Hetmyer blasted an unbeaten 78 off 37 balls as Seattle Orcas continued their recent Major League Cricket revival with a four-wicket win over San Francisco Unicorns.

The Orcas lost their opening five matches in MLC and reacted by sacking Matthew Mott as coach while Heinrich Klaasen stepped down as captain.

Since then they are unbeaten as they chased down 169 for victory in the first match of this year's tournament at Central Broward Park in Florida.

Hetmyer had spearheaded both of his side's two previous wins with knocks of 97* and 64 and was the key man again after the Orcas had slipped to 56-4.

The West Indies batter clubbed seven sixes and four fours in a brutal knock as the Orcas got home with three balls to spare.

Aussie seamer Xavier Bartlett finished the pick of the Unicorns bowlers with 2-14 while former England quick Liam Plunkett claimed 1-26.

Earlier, USA batter Sanjay Krishnamurthi hit four sixes as he top-scored for the Unicorns with 41 off 28 balls while Jake Fraser-McGurk made 35 off 22 deliveries as they posted 168-5.

California-born Ayan Desai led the way for the Orcas with the ball as he took 3-32 while South Africa's Gerald Coetzee was the most economical of the night with his four overs costing 21.

The Unicorns are second place in the standings - level on points with leaders Washington Freedom having played a game more - while the Orcas are fourth.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Faf du Plessis made his second century of the Major League Cricket season to set up Texas Super Kings' 39-run win over MI New York and secure their play-off spot.

Du Plessis, who has now made eight T20 centuries, hit an unbeaten 103 off 53 balls from the top of the order as Super Kings posted 223-4.

He shared 80 for the second wicket with Saiteja Mukkamalla (25) before stands of 57 with Marcus Stoinis (25) and 81 with fellow South African Donovan Ferreira (53 off 20).

It is Du Plessis' third MLC century and his seventh in franchise cricket, to accompany his one in internationals.

In reply MI slipped to 75-4 at the start of the 11th over and were always behind the required rate.

New Zealand's Michael Bracewell (26 off 20) and West Indies' Kieron Pollard (70 from 39) shared 88 for the fifth wicket but were unable to put MI back in the game.

Super Kings remain third, but move within two points of the top two, while MI are fifth with just one win in seven games. They are in a battle for the fourth play-off spot.

MLC takes a break on Monday night with the competition moving to Lauderhill in Florida for the conclusion of the group stage.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Shimron Hetmyer starred again as Seattle Orcas chased 203 to beat Los Angeles Knight Riders by five wickets and make it consecutive wins in Major League Cricket.

Orcas needed five to win from the final over but only managed two from the first four balls.

However Hetmyer, who hit a final-ball six to secure a win on Friday, clubbed Shadley van Schalkwyk's misjudged yorker back down the ground for six to secure the win with one ball to spare.

He finished 64 not out off 26 balls, with four fours and six sixes.

Earlier in the innings USA duo Aaron Jones (73 off 38) and Shayan Jahangir (43 off 21) shared 119 for the second wicket after Josh Brown was dismissed off the second ball.

Knight Riders posted 202-4 with West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell making 65 not out from 39 balls after being promoted to three.

He was supported by compatriot Rovman Powell, who finished unbeaten on 43 from 21 balls.

The win lifts Orcas to fourth as they likely battle it out for the final play-off spot, while Knight Riders are bottom after one win in seven matches.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Australia's Mitchell Owen took the first five-wicket haul of his career to help Washington Freedom inflict a first defeat on San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket.

Unicorns were going well at 97-2 in the 11th over, in pursuit of 170 to extend their winning run to seven matches.

However, Owen had compatriot Matthew Short caught at long-on for 67 - his fourth consecutive half-century since joining up with Freedom - to start a collapse.

They were 113-7 less than five overs later, with Owen also removing Hassan Khan for seven and Romario Shepherd for a first-ball duck.

Owen broke a stand of 28 for the eighth wicket and also claimed the ninth as Unicorns finished on 157-9, to lose by 12 runs.

Freedom were 30-4 after five overs of their innings with Owen out for a duck, Rachin Ravindra for nine and Glenn Maxwell for one.

However, a stand of 71 between Jack Edwards (42 off 42) and Glenn Phillips (58 off 39) helped them to 101-5.

Obus Pienaar (30*) then supported Phillips before sharing an unbroken 37 with Mukhtar Ahmed after Phillips was dismissed as Freedom posted 169-6.

Unicorns stay top on net run-rate but have been joined on 12 points by Freedom. Both sides have already guaranteed a play-off spot.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Shimron Hetmyer hit the final ball for six as Seattle Orcas completed a record Major League chase to beat MI New York by three wickets and register their first win of the season.

Orcas needed nine from the final over, but only managed a single from the first four balls. They scrambled two from the penultimate ball, leaving six to win from the last.

Former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard bowled a leg-stump full toss which compatriot Hetmyer flicked over fine leg to seal Orcas first win in six matches.

Hetmyer, who was struggling with a groin injury, finished 97 not out from 40 balls as Orcas chased 238 in Dallas.

It beat Washington Freedom's chase of 221 against Texas Super Kings earlier in the tournament.

They sacked ex-England head coach Matthew Mott earlier on Friday and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza replaced South African Heinrich Klaasen as captain.

New York posted 237-4 with West Indies' Nicholas Pooran smashing an unbeaten 108 off 60 and Tajinder Singh 95 from 35 balls.

The pair shared 158 runs off 68 balls for the third wicket, which is the highest in MLC history.

Orcas remain fifth, while New York are fourth but have also won just one of their six matches.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Mott has been sacked as Seattle Orcas head coach after a winless start to this year's Major League Cricket season.

The 51-year-old Australian, who coached England men's limited-overs side between 2022-2024, has overseen a run of five straight defeats which left them bottom of the MLC standings.

Mott only became Orcas head coach this year, but the franchise said there were "differences in coaching and management strategies".

Orcas chief executive Hemant Dua said: "This is a moment of reflection and renewal for the Seattle Orcas. This has been a tough run for the team, and with it, some difficult decisions had to be made.

"We are grateful to Matthew for his commitment and professionalism during his time with us, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavors."

South African Heinrich Klaasen has also quit as Orcas captain with Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza taking over the role.

Image source, Getty Images

Former England women's head coach Jon Lewis has left his role at UP Warriorz in the Women's Premier League after three seasons.

Lewis, 49, combined the role with his England duties and said he expected the tournament to provide "fascinating insight into the depth of cricket in India".

He was sacked from his role with England after a disappointing winter where they were knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the group stages before a 16-0 Ashes defeat in Australia.

Warriorz progressed to the knockouts in the inaugural season before fourth and fifth-place finishes in the past two years.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Jason Holder dropped a catch off the final ball to give Washington Freedom a five-wicket win over Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.

Defending champions Freedom needed two to win from the final three balls and managed a single off the penultimate ball to leave the scores level.

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips was on strike to West Indies' Andre Russell for the final ball but picked out Holder at mid-on.

However Holder spilled the catch and the ball ricocheted away allowing Phillips and Obus Pienaar to get through for the match-winning single.

Phillips finished 33 not out off 23 balls, while Pienaar added 23 off 16 as Freedom chased 214.

Australia's Mitchell Owen made 43 at the top of the order and captain Glenn Maxwell 42.

Knight Riders posted 213-4 with West Indies' Andre Fletcher smashing 104 off 60 balls.

He retired out with fatigue at the end of the 18th over before compatriot Rovman Powell was dismissed first ball.

However Russell (30* off 13) and Holder (11* off 6) added 23 off the final 11 balls.

Freedom go second with five wins from six matches, while Knight Riders are fifth with one win from six.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Matthew Short starred with bat and ball as San Francisco Unicorns extended their winning start to six games with a 32-run win over Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket.

Australia's Short made 52 off 29 - his third half-century in three games - at the top of the order as Unicorns posted 176-8.

He shared 68 with compatriot Jake Fraser-McGurk (34 off 21) for the second wicket but both were dismissed in a seven-ball spell to leave Unicorns 93-3.

The innings was held together by West Indies' Romario Shepherd, who smashed 56 off 31 balls as he lost four partners for single-figure scores.

Orcas made a good start in reply, reaching 59-0 off the six-over powerplay, but openers Shayan Jahangir (40 off 22) and David Warner (23 off 20) were dismissed in the space of three balls.

Warner was Short's first wicket and the Unicorns captain finished with 3-12 from his four overs.

Pakistan seamer Haris Rauf was the pick of the Unicorns bowlers - taking 4-32, including the big wickets of Henrich Klaasen and Shimron Hetmyer - as he extended his lead as the top wicket-taker to six victims.

Unicorns are top of the table with six wins from six matches, while Orcas are bottom with five straight defeats.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Texas Super Kings ended a two-game losing run with a 52-run win over Los Angeles Knight Riders in Major League Cricket.

They were reduced to 33-3 in the powerplay but Shubham Ranjane made 70 off 43 balls and Donovan Ferreira 43 off 21 to help them post 196-8.

Knight Riders slipped to 10-2 in the second over with Alex Hales (5) and Nitish Kumar (0) dismissed by West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein.

They struggled for fluency throughout their innings with Unmukt Chand scoring a run-a-ball 30 but Saif Badar and Sherfane Rutherford both had a strike-rate below 100 in their respective innings of 19 and 13.

Captain Jason Holder added some late impetus with an unbeaten 26 off 17 balls but Knight Riders finished on 144-7 from their 20 overs.

Super Kings are second in the six-team table with four wins from their six matches, while Knight Riders are fifth with one win from five.

Image source, Major League Cricket

Matthew Short clubbed a 43-ball 91 as San Francisco Unicorns maintained their winning streak in Major League Cricket with a 47-run win over MI New York.

The opening batter hit five sixes and nine fours in the Unicorns' total of 246-4 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas.

Short shared a 74-run stand with fellow Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk for the second wicket with the latter whacking seven sixes in his 26-ball 64.

Kieron Pollard finished the pick of the New York attack with 2-31.

Quinton de Kock biffed 70 off 46 balls as he and Monank Patel, who made 60, enjoyed a stand of 119 in 9.3 overs as MI initially made a decent fist of the chase.

However, the match swung the way of the Unicorns when De Kock dragged on to all-rounder Romario Shepherd.

Then when MI captain Nicholas Pooran departed for a rather ponderous 15 - caught behind off Haris Rauf - the chase lost momentum despite a cameo from Pollard who hit an unbeaten 34 off 16 balls.

Shepherd claimed 2-30 for the Unicorns while Xavier Bartlett picked up 2-35.

Veteran English seamer Liam Plunkett finished with 1-25 as MI finished well short of the target on 199-6.

The Unicorns have won five out of five matches in this year's edition of MLC and sit top of the standings on 10 points - two above defending champions Washington Freedom.

Washington Freedom beat Texas Super Kings by seven wickets to move second in Major League Cricket.

Australian opener Mitchell Owen again top-scored for Freedom, hitting 89 from 52 balls as his side chased down their target of 221 to record their fourth successive victory.

Owen put on 119 for the second wicket with USA international Andries Gous (80 not out from 45), while New Zealand's Glenn Phillips (12 not out from four) hit a winning boundary with four further balls remaining.

Super Kings captain Faf du Plessis was the highest scorer in their innings, striking 69 from 31, but was one of three batters to fall to Owen (3-33) as his side finished on 220-6.

In the early game in Dallas, Los Angeles Knight Riders managed their first win in four attempts as they beat bottom side Seattle Orcas by six wickets.

Two domestic players, Unmukt Chand (80 not out) and Saif Badar (54) put on 139 for the third wicket after Alex Hales and Nitish Kumar both fell for one to leave Knight Riders 7-2.

West Indies international Sherfane Rutherford (20 not out) hit a six to see Knight Riders reach their target of 178 with 10 balls to spare.

Aaron Jones top-scored for Orcas, who are winless in four matches, with 44, but their big-hitting captain Heinrich Klaasen was dismissed for four.

Freedom leapfrog Super Kings to move second, while Knight Riders are fifth, one place above the Orcas.