MLC 2023, WF vs SFU | Preview, Pitch Report, Probable XIs, Fantasy Tips & Prediction

The upcoming clash in the Major Cricket League (MCL) 2023 is set to take place between Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns on Sunday, July 23. This highly anticipated match will be played at Church Street Park in Morrisville.

WF vs SFU: Team Previews

Washington Freedom

After a disappointing opening game, Washington Freedom bounced back with two consecutive victories. They clinched their maiden win by overcoming Texas Super Kings by a narrow margin of six runs, followed by a convincing six-wicket triumph over Los Angeles Kolkata Knight Riders.

Key performers from their side include skipper Moises Henriques and Marco Jansen, who both had a successful outing with the ball in the last game. Their batting line-up, especially openers Matthew Short and Andries Gous, proved their mettle too. Riding high on their recent success, the team will eagerly look forward to securing a win and strengthening their knockout qualification position.

San Francisco Unicorns

On the other hand, San Francisco Unicorns started their campaign on a high note by defeating MI New York by 22 runs. However, they failed to maintain their momentum and fell to a 35-run defeat against the table-toppers, Seattle Orcas. They subsequently made a stellar comeback, defeating the Knight Riders by 21 runs after posting a massive total of 212 runs, thanks to standout performances from Matthew Wade, Marcus Stoinis, and Corey Anderson.

Their bowling attack, spearheaded by the Pakistani duo of Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf, has been impressive and will be crucial in the forthcoming fixture. A win here ensures a spot in the top two for either team.

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Match Details

Date and Time: 22 July, 2:30 AM IST

Venue: Church Street Park, Morrisville

Live Streaming and Broadcast: Sports18 & JioCinema

Pitch Report

Moving onto the pitch conditions at Church Street Park, the surface seems to favour teams batting second. The two matches played on this ground so far have indicated that the pitch tends to improve as the game progresses, making chasing targets easier. Bowlers, particularly pacers, can expect to receive significant assistance from the pitch, while a change in pace could prove to be a key tactic. Although the average score at this venue has been around 150, the upcoming game could possibly see a higher run fest.

Predicted Playing XI

Washington Freedom: Matthew Short, Andries Gous (wk), Mukhtar Ahmed, Glenn Phillips, Moises Henriques (c), Obus Pienaar, Marco Jansen, Akeal Hosein, Dane Piedt, Anrich Nortje, Saurabh Netravalkar

San Francisco Unicorns: Finn Allen, Matthew Wade (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch (c), Corey Anderson, Shadab Khan, Tajinder Dhillon, Chaitanya Bishnoi, Carmi le Roux, Haris Rauf, Liam Plunkett

Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

Wicket-keepers: Finn Allen, Matthew Wade
Batters: Glenn Phillips, Moises Henriques, Corey Anderson
All-rounders: Marco Jansen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Shadab Khan
Bowlers: Anrich Nortje, Haris Rauf

Captain: Matthew Short
Vice-Captain: Matthew Wade

Prediction

Washington Freedom are the favourites to win this match based on their current form. 

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