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It is the opening match of the 2024 Major League Cricket season for the San Francisco Unicorns, coached by Shane Watson, as they take on the Los Angeles Knight Riders at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Sunday evening in the United States.
DATE & TIME: Sunday 7th July, 2024 – USA ET – 8:30pm / USA PT – 5:30pm / West Indies – 7:30pm & Monday 8th July, 2024 – UK – 1:30am / South Africa – 2:30am / Pakistan – 5:30am / India – 6:00am / Bangladesh – 6:30am / Australia – 10:30am
VENUE: Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas, Texas, United States
WEATHER: 31c or 87.8 F with thunderstorms forecasted
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: USA – Willow TV / West Indies – TBA / UK – TNT Sports / South Africa – ESPN / Pakistan – A Sports / India – TBA / Bangladesh – TBA / Australia – N/A
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: USA – Willow TV / West Indies – TBA / UK – TNT Sports app / South Africa – ESPN+ app / Pakistan – A Sports / India – TBA / Bangladesh – TBA / Australia – Amazon Prime Video
SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS FORM: A GUTTING FIRST SEASON
The San Francisco Unicorns missed out on a top four spot and the playoffs in 2023 due to net run rate so they will be out to right that underperformance. Captained by Corey Anderson, there is plenty of experience in the Unicorns’ side such as Pat Cummins, Matt Henry and Liam Plunkett but the star attraction is likely to be West Indian all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford.
LAST THREE: LLWLW
LOS ANGELES KNIGHT RIDERS FORM: A TERRIBLE FIRST SEASON
In contrast to the Unicorns’ narrow miss on the top four last season, the Los Angeles Knight Riders, affiliated with Indian Premier League side the Kolkata Knight Riders, endured a miserable campaign last season. LAKR began with four defeats, and all four defeats were fairly heavy, before finishing the season, in last place, with a slender two-wicket defeat against league winners Seattle Orcas.
LAST THREE: WLLLL
SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS BETTING ANALYSIS
The biggest weakness in a weak LAKR side would be their bowling department so San Francisco Unicorns to score big runs would appear quite likely. There aren’t too many standout candidates for that role, though, with emphasis on their own bowling but one man who will be key to any success is likely to be Jake Fraser-McGurk, set to be a leading light of Australia’s next white-ball era. Fraser-McGurk to start his newest franchise journey off well as their top scorer in this match would be worth a shot.
In the bowling attack, T20 has arguably been Pat Cummins’ weakest format but the Australian Test captain took hat-tricks in successive matches at the World Cup so will come into this feeling a bit of form. Cummins to begin his campaign with two or more wickets seems a good bet.
LOS ANGELES KNIGHT RIDERS BETTING ANALYSIS
As mentioned, LAKR’s weakness is probably with the ball but with the bat they are not too much stronger, at least on paper. Former England international Jason Roy is likely to be in the top three but it will be middle-order hitting they rely on and, in particular, David Miller who is likeliest to be their best batter in most matches.
With the ball, though, they will believe that some skilful bowling will be able to hurt what is not the most star-studded Unicorns lineup. That is where the excellent spin of Adam Zampa comes into play and the Australian international to take two or more wickets seems a good bet.
SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS VS LOS ANGELES KNIGHT RIDERS EXPERT PREDICTION
These two were the weakest teams in the competition last season but both sides will be hoping to be a little rejuvenated this time around. There is one clear ‘top tip’ to offer here, though. The Unicorns’ strength is in their pace-bowling attack, whilst LAKR look quite weak at the top of the order. Naturally, then, if the Unicorns open up with seam, LAKR may well struggle and that should result in the San Francisco Unicorns having the better of the powerplay and the higher opening stand.
SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS VS LOS ANGELES KNIGHT RIDERS TOP TIP: SAN FRANCISCO UNICORNS TO HAVE THE HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP