ANDRE Fletcher signed off Major League Cricket 2025 in style, cracking a scintillating 118 to lead Los Angeles Knight Riders to a thrilling 11-run (DLS) victory over San Francisco Unicorns in the final league game at Lauderhill on Sunday.

It was only Knight Riders’ second win of the tournament, but it proved to be a decisive blow to the Unicorns’ hopes of a top-two finish, condemning them to third place and a spot in the eliminator.

Fletcher, who brought up his second century of the tournament, was at his brutal best, smashing his way to 118 off just 58 balls, laced with an array of punishing strokes that included multiple sixes and boundaries. He shared two vital partnerships — 94 runs with Alex Hales (58 off 26) and 97 with Sherfane Rutherford (49 off 28) — as the Knight Riders piled up a mammoth 243 for 3 in a rain-shortened 19-over innings.

The carnage began early, with Knight Riders racing to 76 in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Hales, finding form at last after a lean stretch, was the early aggressor before Fletcher took full command. Once Hales departed, Fletcher and Rutherford maintained the pressure on the Unicorns’ attack, punishing anything loose and finding the boundary with relentless frequency.

The assault hit a peak in the 18th over when Fletcher, batting on 79, smashed Brody Couch for three sixes and a four to surge past three figures. He continued the onslaught with two more sixes in the final over from Hassan Khan before falling off the last ball of the innings for a spectacular 118. His innings was the bedrock of what became the highest team total at Lauderhill in the tournament — a venue where 188 had previously been the ceiling.

In response, the Unicorns launched a spirited chase. Sanjay Krishnamurthi was sensational at the top, hammering 92 off just 40 balls with seven fours and seven sixes to give the Unicorns a real shot at the massive target. His blitz had the Unicorns needing 68 from the final five overs, but Jason Holder struck a crucial blow, removing Krishnamurthi with the first ball of the 15th over to turn the tide.

Despite Xavier Bartlett’s fireworks in the 16th over — including three sixes and a four off Corne Dry — the Unicorns fell short, ending on 233. The absence of Romario Shepherd, who injured his ankle early while attempting a boundary catch, proved costly as the batting effort ran out of steam in the closing stages.

Karthik Gattepalli was the standout with the ball for Knight Riders on his MLC debut, taking 3 for 31 and breaking the back of the Unicorns’ top order. He removed Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk in a pivotal second over after Dominic Drakes had earlier dismissed Finn Allen.

For the Unicorns, it was a bitter end to the league phase. The loss sees them slip to third on the table and into a do-or-die eliminator clash against MI New York. Meanwhile, Washington Freedom and Texas Super Kings, who finished in the top two, will contest Qualifier 1, with a direct spot in the final on the line.

As for Fletcher and the Knight Riders, their campaign may be over, but the Grenadian power-hitter ensured it ended on a note to remember — one that reshaped the playoff landscape in the process. (Sportsmax)