Haris Rauf Destroys Washington Freedom in MLC Opener – 3 Wickets Including Maxwell, Phillips

Haris Rauf delivered a fiery spell in the opening match of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, helping San Francisco Unicorns crush Washington Freedom by a massive margin at Oakland Coliseum. The fast bowler took 3 wickets for 30 runs, including the big scalps of Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips.

San Francisco Unicorns started their campaign with a bang, thanks to a stunning batting performance from Finn Allen. The Kiwi batter smashed a 51-ball 151, leading his team to a mammoth total of 269/5 in 20 overs. In reply, Washington Freedom folded for just 146 in 13.1 overs, handing Unicorns a record-breaking 123-run win — the biggest in MLC history.

Haris Rauf Starts MLC 2025 With A Bang

Haris Rauf, who had an average MLC record in the last two seasons, began the new season on a high. The Pakistan pacer dismissed both Glenns — Maxwell and Phillips — at crucial moments, swinging the match firmly in Unicorns’ favour. He ended with figures of 3 for 30 in his four overs.

Before this game, Rauf had taken 14 wickets in 15 MLC matches at an average of 35.14 and an economy of 8.86. His strike rate of 23.78 was on the higher side. However, if this performance is anything to go by, he seems ready to turn things around in MLC 2025.

Other Bowlers Join The Party

Rauf was well supported by Hassan Khan, who picked 3 for 38. Carmi le Roux and Liam Plunkett also chipped in with wickets. Among the bowlers, only Xavier Bartlett went wicketless despite his recent IPL experience with Punjab Kings.

San Francisco Unicorns will be back in action on June 15 when they take on Los Angeles Knight Riders in Match 3 at the same venue. With a dominant start under their belt, they’ll look to continue the winning momentum.