San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) will lock horns with Washington Freedom (WF) in Eliminator 2 of Main League Cricket (MLC) 2026 on the Oakland Coliseum at the moment. The stakes couldn’t be greater, with the winner progressing to the match ultimate towards Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR), who secured their place after defeating the Unicorns in Qualifier 1.
Each groups enter the competition after contrasting performances. San Francisco Unicorns, led by Matthew Brief’s unbeaten 94 and Sanjay Krishnamurthi’s preventing 65, suffered a slender seven-run defeat to Los Angeles Knight Riders in Qualifier 1.
In the meantime, Washington Freedom head into the Eliminator on a excessive after Andries Gous and Steven Smith smashed sensible centuries to script the best profitable run chase in T20 historical past towards MI New York. With momentum on Freedom’s facet and the Unicorns desirous to bounce again, followers can count on one other high-scoring contest.
SFU vs WF, MLC 2026: Match particulars
- Date and Time: July 17, 7:00 AM IST / 1:30 AM GMT / July 16 6:30 PM Native
- Venue: Oakland Coliseum, Oakland
SFU vs WF Head-to-Head Document
Matches performed: 7 | Washington Freedom gained: 4 | San Francisco Unicorns gained: 3
Oakland Coliseum Pitch Report
The Oakland Coliseum has persistently produced high-scoring encounters all through MLC 2026, and one other batting-friendly floor is anticipated for Eliminator 2. Greater than 500 runs have been scored within the earlier match on the venue, highlighting the true nature of the wicket and the short outfield.
Whereas batters are anticipated to dominate as soon as they get settled, quick bowlers may get pleasure from some help with the brand new ball through the powerplay, due to a touch of lateral motion. Nonetheless, because the innings progresses, stroke-making typically turns into simpler. A primary-innings complete in extra of 200 may as soon as once more be required, with the captain successful the toss more likely to bowl first.
Squads
San Francisco Unicorns: Matthew Brief (c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius (wk), Finn Allen, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Aaron Hardie, Hassan Khan, Hammad Azam, Brody Sofa, Xavier Bartlett, Ghulam Mudassar, Haris Rauf, Peter Siddle, Zia-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ilyas, Aakarshit Gomel, Cooper Connolly, Connor Esterhuizen, Saideep Ganesh, Stephen Wiig, Oliver Peake, Juanoy Drysdale, Anirudh Immanuel
Washington Freedom: Steven Smith (c), Andries Gous (wk), Mitchell Owen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Maxwell, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Obus Pienaar, Ian Holland, Asif Mehmood, Saurabh Netravalkar, Mark Chapman, Amila Aponso, Yasir Mohammad, Mukhtar Ahmed, Lockie Ferguson, Lahiru Milantha, Jack Edwards, Marco Jansen, Abhishek Paradkar
Additionally READ: Andries Gous and Steve Smith power Washington Freedom to record chase against MI New York in MLC 2026 Eliminator
SFU vs WF, MLC 2026, As we speak’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- SFU wins the toss and bowls first
- WF’s powerplay rating: 60-65
- WF’s complete rating: 200-210
Case 2:
- WF wins the toss and bowls first
- SFU’s powerplay rating: 55-60
- SFU’s complete rating: 190-200
Match end result: Crew bowling first to win the competition.
Additionally READ: Rovman Powell and Andre Russell power Los Angeles Knight Riders into MLC 2026 final with thrilling win over San Francisco Unicorns
