Picking a combined Seattle Orcas-San Francisco Unicorns playing 11 for MLC 2024 ft. Matthew Short, Heinrich Klaasen
The 13th Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 clash between the Seattle Orcas and the San Francisco Unicorns will take place at Morrisville on Tuesday, July 16.
The Seattle Orcas are reeling at the bottom of the table with just one win and two defeats from three matches. It has been a topsy-turvy MLC 2024 campaign for them. They lost their opening game but bounced back to win the next game. However, with a loss in their previous game, they will look to bounce back going forward.
Looking at the San Francisco Unicorns, their run in the tournament hasn't been great either. They began with a victory in their first game against the LA Knight Riders. However, they lost their next game, and their previous encounter was washed out, leaving them with three points from as many games.
Both the Seattle Orcas and the San Francisco Unicorns will be desperate for a win here. Ahead of their exciting MLC 2024 battle, here is a combined playing XI with players from both teams.
Combined Seattle Orcas-San Francisco Unicorns playing 11 for MLC 2024
Openers: Ryan Rickelton, Finn Allen
Ryan Rickelton is the fifth-highest run-getter of the tournament so far. He has scored 107 runs from two innings. In their win against the Knight Riders, Rickelton smashed an unbeaten 66-ball 103 to help them chase down 169. Rickelton is in top form and the Seattle Orcas will expect him to carry the same in this crucial contest.
Accompanying Rickelton at the top would be Finn Allen. Allen was at his best in the game against the Knight Riders for the San Francisco Unicorns. He slammed a 37-ball 63 at the top to set the tone for a successful run-chase.
With an ability to go hard in the powerplay and score quickly, both these openers would be the ideal pair for this combined team.
Middle-order and all-rounders: Matthew Short, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Corey Anderson, Heinrich Klaasen (C & WK), Imad Wasim, Harmeet Singh
Building on the tone set by Finn Allen, his teammate Matthew Short carried the momentum forward in the chase against the Knight Riders. Short powered his way to a scintillating 26-ball 58, striking a touch over 223. He is the ideal fit as an explosive batter at No.3.
Left-arm spinner and all-rounder Sanjay Krishnamurthi adds balance to the side. With an ability to chip in with a few overs and score some handy runs, he would come in at No.4, followed by fast-bowling all-rounder Corey Anderson.
Anderson hasn't been at his best in MLC 2024. The San Francisco skipper has struggled to get going with the bat. In a crunch game like this, he will be expected to lead from the front and deliver for his side.
Heinrich Klaasen was the lone performer for Seattle in their previous outing. Where other batters failed to score, Klaasen came to the party with a 30-ball 51. Known for his fearless batting and ability to attack spinners in the middle, Klaasen would be the captain of this combined side while also handling the glove work.
Imad Wasim is another handy all-rounder who brings the ability to score some quick runs at the backend, pick up wickets in the powerplay, and bowl some crucial overs in the middle.
Harmeet Singh would add to the depth of this batting line-up. He has shown glimpses of his capability to get some quick and useful runs, apart from being a handy option with the ball as well.
Bowlers: Cameron Gannon, Liam Plunkett, Haris Rauf
Cameron Gannon has picked up four wickets for Seattle in three MLC 2024 games so far. Given his record in the previous season and his knack for picking up wickets regularly, Seattle will look forward to more consistent performances from their pacer.
Liam Plunkett has only managed to grab a couple of wickets for San Francisco in as many games. While he would want to improve his showing with the ball, Plunkett is more than just a handy lower-order batter. His ability to score vital runs and hit the ball hard make him a valuable inclusion in this combined XI.
Haris Rauf bagged two wickets for San Francisco in their win against the Knight Riders. He failed to pick up a wicket next up but proved to be economical. Haris will be keen to make his presence felt in the MLC 2024 season with better performances.