GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas, July 10, 2026 β€” Jason Holder claimed four wickets as LA Knight Riders defended 184 to defeat the San Francisco Unicorns by 11 runs in a high-scoring Major League Cricket contest at Grand Prairie on Friday, strengthening their position in the race for the playoffs.

Holder's 4 for 40 halted a spirited late charge led by Hassan Khan and Hammad Azam after LA Knight Riders had built their innings around Colin Munro's half-century, Andre Russell's explosive cameo and Matthew Tromp's unbeaten contribution of 49.
Jason Holder claimed four wickets as LA Knight Riders secured an 11-run victory over the San Francisco Unicorns. Photo by Shaun Roy / Sportzpics for MLC

After winning the toss, LA Knight Riders opted to bat and recovered well despite losing wickets at regular intervals. Munro anchored the innings with 52 from 43 deliveries, providing stability at the top before Matthew Short bowled him in the 14th over.

Andre Fletcher added 15 from 13 balls before falling to Haris Rauf, but Russell changed the tempo with a blistering 40 from just 18 deliveries. The all-rounder struck four fours and three sixes, taking the attack to the Unicorns' bowlers and pushing the total beyond the halfway mark before Ghulam Mudassar dismissed him.

Tromp then ensured LA Knight Riders maintained the momentum during the closing overs. His 49 from 28 balls featured five fours and two sixes before Xavier Bartlett dismissed him one run short of a half-century in the final over. Jahmar Hamilton added a quick unbeaten 13 from five balls, including a six, while Shadley van Schalkwyk remained not out on one as LA Knight Riders closed on 184 for 7.

Rauf was the standout bowler for San Francisco with 3 for 25 from three overs, while Bartlett returned 2 for 24 and Short finished with 1 for 26.

Chasing 185, the Unicorns lost momentum almost immediately. Finn Allen fell for one, Lhuan-dre Pretorius made 18, and Sanjay Krishnamurthi managed just four as Holder's early spell reduced the innings to 37 for 3. Aaron Hardie was then caught and bowled by Russell for one, leaving the Unicorns reeling at 42 for 4.

Matthew Short attempted to rebuild with a composed 43 from 30 balls, but his dismissal to Ali Khan left San Francisco needing 65 from the final seven overs with only the lower order remaining.

Hassan Khan and Hammad Azam mounted a determined fightback, adding 76 for the seventh wicket to briefly revive the chase. Khan struck 45 from 33 balls, including five fours and a six, while Azam counterattacked with 40 from just 19 deliveries, hitting four boundaries and two sixes.

The partnership threatened to swing the match before Lloyd Pope removed Khan and Holder trapped Azam lbw in the 19th over to extinguish the Unicorns' hopes. Holder finished with 4 for 40, while Russell complemented him with 3 for 42 and van Schalkwyk claimed 1 for 30 as San Francisco were bowled out for 173 in 19.1 overs.

The victory keeps LA Knight Riders firmly in contention for a playoff berth entering the closing stages of the group phase, while the Unicorns will look to recover quickly after an early collapse ultimately proved too costly despite a resilient lower-order response.