In the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2023 match between the San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) and Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on July 19, SFU’s Corey Anderson delivered an outstanding performance.
Winning the toss and choosing to bat first, SFU posted an impressive total of 212/7, largely thanks to Anderson’s powerful hitting.
Anderson’s left-handed brilliance was on full display as he played a remarkable cameo, scoring 39 runs off just 20 balls. In the 18th over, facing LAKR’s pacer Andre Russell, Anderson went on the offensive and smashed two consecutive sixes.
The second six was particularly monumental, as it soared 102 metres over long-on, leaving Russell visibly defeated with fitness concerns and eventually walking off the field with the physio by his side.
OVER THE CENTURY 💯CLUB!
— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 19, 2023
Corey Anderson sends the ball off the TOP WALL of the CENTURY CLUB!
1⃣8⃣8⃣/4⃣ (17.2) pic.twitter.com/d5DHu9JMxv
Even after Russell’s departure, Anderson didn’t hold back, punishing Ali Khan for two consecutive fours in the same over. By the end of the 18th over, SFU had managed to add 23 valuable runs to their tally, strengthening their position in the match.
However, Anderson’s explosive innings came to an end in the penultimate over when he misjudged a slog sweep against LAKR’s leg-spinner Adam Zampa and was caught out at deep midwicket. His knock featured three fours and as many sixes, leaving a significant impact on the game.
Before Anderson’s heroics, SFU’s opener, Matthew Wade, had already set the tone for the inning by smashing the fastest fifty in MLC. Wade’s aggressive left-handed approach yielded an incredible 50 runs off a mere 21 balls, with two sixes and three fours from Ali Khan’s over in the sixth over.
Wade’s partnership with Finn Allen (20 off 19) resulted in a formidable 88-run opening stand, providing SFU with a flying start.
Following Wade’s departure in the 14th over, Marcus Stoinis contributed 37 runs off just 18 balls, adding to the team’s impressive total, before Anderson took centre stage to finish the inning with a bang.
In their chase to reach 213, LAKR were off to a decent start at 73/2 after eight overs. However, losing Jason Roy for 45 runs off 21 balls and Unmukt Chand for 20 runs off 17 balls halted their momentum. With Anderson’s incredible performance and Adam Zampa’s three-wicket haul for SFU, LAKR faced an uphill battle in their pursuit of victory.
The match between SFU and LAKR showcased thrilling displays of power-hitting, exceptional bowling, and intense competition. With Anderson’s awe-inspiring sixes and Wade’s record-breaking half-century, the match proved to be an exhilarating spectacle for cricket fans and enthusiasts alike.
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