TSK Beat San Francisco Unicorns by 22 Runs — MLC 2026 Match Report (Oakland)

Texas Super Kings (Playing XI): Faf du Plessis (c), Saiteja Mukkamalla, Rilee Rossouw, Milind Kumar, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Hardus Viljoen, Adam Milne, Amshi de Silva, Abhimanyu Lamba

San Francisco Unicorns (Playing XI): Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Finn Allen, Matthew Short (c), Connor Esterhuizen (wk), Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Hassan Khan, Hammad Azam, Brody Couch, Glulam Mudassar, Peter Siddle, Haris Rauf

Two changes worth noting: Donovan Ferreira steps up behind the stumps — an unusual move — with Smit Patel dropping out of the XI. Abhimanyu Lamba comes in as the extra seamer Faf mentioned at the toss. For SF, Haris Rauf returns in place of R. Ashwin, with Matthew Short opting for pace over spin at Oakland.

San Francisco Unicorns won the toss and elected to field.

"Absolutely no idea on what could be the ideal score in this ground. Last year was a really good one first up, so hopefully it's the same first game. Looks obviously a few cracks running through the pitch, so we have to assess and see what sort of score. I had a back spasm the morning of the game, woke up and felt like an old man — a little bit better today. We're playing an extra seamer today. Last year, the spinners, we felt it wasn't as effective, so hoping that the extra seamer would make a difference." — Faf du Plessis

"We're going to have a bowl. Yeah, obviously it looks a little bit drier, a little bit more back to the back like a year ago. The dimensions are a little bit funky but we just want to go out there and back our skills. Just keep doing what works and see how we go. Only the one change — Harris Rauf comes back in and Ravi Ashwin's out." — Matthew Short

The league moves to Oakland Coliseum for MLC 2026's California leg. Drop-in pitches, West Coast conditions, bigger dimensions: 217 ft straight, 180 ft to the offside, 193 ft to leg. SF are familiar with this ground — it's their home turf. TSK are coming in desperate for a win after the 8-wicket loss to MI New York in Dallas.

Head to Head: TSK vs San Francisco Unicorns

SF lead 5–2 all-time — and this rivalry has swung sharply in San Francisco's favour. TSK won the first two meetings comfortably in 2023 and 2024. Since then, SF have won four in a row — the 2024 Challenger, two 2025 league matches including a gut-punch 1-run win where TSK needed 2 off the last ball, and most recently the Grand Prairie opener of MLC 2026, where Lhuan-dre Pretorius' unbeaten 69 powered a 7-wicket chase of 153 with 13 balls to spare.

TSK's last win in this fixture was back in 2024. That's a four-match losing streak SF will want to extend; it's a streak TSK absolutely must end today to keep playoff hopes alive.

Key Battles: Who Dominates This Fixture

TSK's top scorers vs SF: Faf du Plessis dominates this fixture like no other — 180 runs in 5 innings at SR 189.5, far ahead of everyone else. Devon Conway added 147 in 4 innings (SR 137.4) before departing the squad. Among the current XI, Donovan Ferreira has been explosive in limited exposure — 39 runs in 1 innings at SR 195.0. Mukkamalla has 72 runs in 2 innings (SR 135.8) and Milind Kumar 58 in 3 innings (SR 113.7). The pattern is clear: when Faf fires against SF, TSK win.

SF's danger men vs TSK: Finn Allen is the most dangerous batter in this fixture — 194 runs in 5 innings at a jaw-dropping SR 204.2. No batter from either side has scored more against the other. Matthew Short adds 174 in 3 innings (SR 164.2) — a lethal combination at the top. Hassan Khan (91 runs, SR 142.2) provides middle-order firepower. Sanjay Krishnamurthi (27 runs at SR 100) has been held in check historically; keeping him quiet matters.

Bowling picture: For TSK, Mohammad Mohsin leads with 6 wickets in this fixture but he's not in today's XI. The current attack hasn't featured heavily in this matchup before. Abhimanyu Lamba is making his first appearance in this fixture. Adam Milne will be the key pace threat — he hasn't played many games in this fixture, but his new-ball ability matters on a surface Faf says has cracks.

For SF, Haris Rauf leads with 5 wickets across 5 meetings (Eco 8.44) — the most dangerous bowler in this H2H. He's back in today after being rested for the TSK game in Dallas. Hassan Khan adds 4 wickets (Eco 8.08) and is a genuine dual threat. Xavier Bartlett (2 wickets, Eco 8.13) provides additional seam bite.

TSK Innings: Faf and Ferreira Rescue TSK at Oakland

Powerplay Platform: Faf and Mukkamalla Put on 72 (6 Overs)

TSK got off to a flying start in Oakland — 48-0 after the powerplay, both openers looking comfortable on a surface that Faf had flagged as unpredictable at the toss. Faf du Plessis and Saiteja Mukkamalla started cautiously before turning up the heat, building a solid 72-run opening stand.

Middle-Order Collapse: TSK Crash to 96-5

The momentum shifted when Finn Allen pulled off a brilliant catch at long-off to dismiss Faf for 40(24) — 2 fours, 3 sixes — off Hassan Khan. Rilee Rossouw fell shortly after, chipping straight back to Matthew Short for a duck. Two wickets in quick succession left TSK at 87-2 at the halfway mark.

What followed was a dramatic collapse. TSK lost a cluster of wickets to find themselves reeling at 96-5, Mukkamalla falling for 36(30) caught again by Finn Allen, this time off Ghulam Mudassar.

Ferreira's 45 off 28 Balls Keeps TSK Alive

Donovan Ferreira then stepped up as the lone warrior. He shifted the pressure immediately, hitting Peter Siddle for back-to-back sixes. Even with wickets tumbling around him, his quick-fire 45(28) — 2 fours, 4 sixes — kept the scoreboard ticking against a disciplined SF bowling attack. Haris Rauf was exceptional, finishing with just 16 runs from 4 overs. Ferreira was eventually caught by Peter Siddle off Ghulam Mudassar.

Amshi de Silva finished the innings in style with a final-ball six to close on 9*(2). TSK 161-8 (20 overs).

Has TSK got enough on the board? 161 on Oakland's big dimensions — with Haris Rauf's economy suggesting the surface isn't completely flat — sets up a fascinating chase.

TSK's Lowest Successfully Defended Totals in MLC

161 is now the third-lowest total TSK have ever successfully defended in MLC — only 153 vs Seattle and 154 vs MI New York sit below it. Both those wins required exceptional bowling efforts, and this one was no different.

SF Chase: Amshi de Silva Rocks the Top Order

Powerplay Strikes: Allen and Pretorius Both Gone (53-3)

TSK needed early wickets to defend 161, and Amshi de Silva delivered exactly that — removing both Finn Allen and Lhuan-dre Pretorius inside the powerplay to leave SF at 53-3 after 6 overs.

The danger man Allen fell first — a good length delivery skidding along the deck, Allen swinging across the line and getting beaten, stumps rattled. Finn Allen b Amshi de Silva 3(6) — the most feared bat in this fixture gone for next to nothing.

Pretorius had looked dangerous, smashing a six before driving hard to wide mid-off — Faf du Plessis diving to his right took a stunning one-handed catch. Lhuan-dre Pretorius c du Plessis b Amshi de Silva 17(15) — the man who dismantled TSK at Grand Prairie was gone too. A perfect start for TSK.

At the end of the powerplay — Matthew Short 24(10) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi 2(2) at the crease. SF need 109 from 84 balls with 7 wickets in hand. Short is flying — if he kicks on, this chase is very much alive.

Lamba and de Silva Tighten the Grip: SF 82-6 at Drinks

The middle overs swung decisively TSK's way. Matthew Short, who was motoring at 24(10), fell in the second half of the powerplay, and the SF middle order crumbled. Abhimanyu Lamba struck twice in the middle overs on his debut in this fixture, keeping SF's rebuilding batters firmly in check.

Krishnamurthi, who had steadied after Short's fall, was run out in a moment of sharp fielding. A carved cut off a short wide ball, a call for two — and Amshi de Silva's flat throw from deep point was a direct hit at the keeper's end, Krishnamurthi well short. Sanjay Krishnamurthi run out (Amshi de Silva) 4(6) — de Silva now with a hand in three wickets in the innings.

At drinks — 82-6 after 10 overs — SF need 80 from 60 balls with just 4 wickets remaining. Hammad Azam 4(5) and Haris Rauf 1(1) at the crease. TSK are heavy favourites from here.

Death Overs: SF Keep Swinging but Fall Short

Despite the precarious position, SF refused to go quietly. Hammad Azam muscled his way to 20(14) with two sixes before being bowled by de Silva. Brody Couch struck a spirited 22(16) — a six and a four — and was eventually caught and bowled by Adam Milne. Hassan Khan chipped in with 14(8), and Peter Siddle held firm at the end on 5*(5), but the lower order could never build the partnership SF desperately needed.

Hardus Viljoen cleaned up Haris Rauf, and Adam Milne took two wickets in the death — including Brody Couch and Ghulam Mudassar — to wrap up the innings. SF were bowled out for 139 in 17.4 overs, falling 22 runs short.

Amshi de Silva was the standout: 4 wickets, plus the run-out assist — a complete performance. Abhimanyu Lamba and Adam Milne took two apiece. TSK's bowling unit delivered exactly when it mattered most.

Result: Texas Super Kings Won by 22 Runs

Texas Super Kings beat San Francisco Unicorns by 22 runs at Oakland Coliseum, climbing to second place in the MLC 2026 points table.

A collective batting effort — Faf's 40(24) at the top, Mukkamalla's 36(30), and Ferreira's crucial 45(28) to rescue a collapsing innings — gave TSK 161 to defend. The bowling unit then did the rest, with Amshi de Silva's four-wicket haul and a brilliant run-out assist the highlight of a disciplined team performance.

TSK end their four-match losing streak against SF Unicorns in style. 💛