3 Reasons Why SEO Lost to SF in the 16th Match of MLC 2025

The Seattle Orcas looked right on track to chase the target down early on, at 66 without loss in just 6.5 overs, with Shayan Jahangir smashing boundaries, and David Warner getting set at the other end. It looked like Seattle may have a chance of pulling off the chase after the San Francisco Unicorns set 176/8, and the Seattle Orcas were going to have a solid process to win. However, as the innings progressed, the momentum of the chase gradually turned, and Seattle saw their chances fade into the Dallas night. What went wrong for the Orcas with their 32-run loss? Let’s talk through the three big reasons that Seattle was unable to chase down the total.

Middle-Order Meltdown Killed the Chase

After the initial rush, wickets began to tumble at a rapid rate, effectively destroying the chance to build momentum. The score was suddenly 66/1, and then it became 73/4 in 7 balls. The Orcas were never able to recover from this. Heinrich Klaasen, the captain, came and went for 7 and did not help restore any momentum with the poor returns of fellow batsmen.

Shimron Hetmyer blasted a quick-fire 30 from 16 balls, but it was death-by-decimal at this point in the game and was extinguished quickly. Undoubtedly, this implosion stemmed largely from absent application and an excess of aggressive shot selection. The Orcas’ middle order crumbled like a house of cards, and the chase was then left in tatters.

Romario Shepherd’s All-Round Brilliance Flipped the Match

Shepherd’s outstanding all-round display proved decisive, turning the game completely in his team’s favor. His 56 runs from only 31 balls accelerated the Unicorns’ innings to another level, and injected some life into the game when cruising tempo looked like stalling a quarter of the way through. 

More importantly, Shepherd’s fireworks with the ball, 2 wickets for 16 runs in 4 overs, thwarted Seattle’s momentum. It was an overriding display of power, taking Jahangir’s wicket early, taking Harmeet Singh’s head, and taking the tail easily. Shepherd’s double attack with bat and ball was the fulcrum on which the Unicorns swung back into the game, leaving Seattle in huge disgrace.

Seattle’s Failure to Adapt and Finish Cost Them Dearly

Seattle’s pressure and conditions were familiar to them. Their fielding was mostly error-free, but again, with little to no support from other key players outside of a handful of players (Warner and Jahangir), the innings showed even poorer depth under pressure. In the death overs, Haris Rauf’s dysfunctional bowling was yet another nail to Seattle’s coffin; he took four wickets that mattered and contained the run rate. 

Seattle continually failed to rotate the strike and hurried shots/processes in the same phases, epitomized by their use of finishers. The pitch behaviours revealed themselves, but while the Unicorn bowlers settled into a rhythm, the Seattle batsmen simply couldn’t assess the playbook.

The match was let go through a brutal middle-order collapse and the merciless execution of Romario Shepherd’s all-round performance. The Seattle Orcas started strong, only to lose their way when things mattered most—they were bested by a well-rounded Unicorns group that took all their chances. For Seattle, it was a promising start and eventually fell into a frustrating chase—a reminder that in MLC, momentum is everything, and the Unicorns displayed exactly how to snatch it away.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!