Match 22 | Major League Cricket 2026 | Knight Riders Cricket Field, Pomona | 6 July 2026

Match 22 puts a genuine individual duel on show for the first time this MLC season: Lhuan-dre Pretorius against Trent Boult, the tournament’s hottest powerplay hitter against a bowler who has broken new-ball records across three continents. Neither has faced the other in MLC 2026 before Monday, and that alone makes San Francisco’s trip to Pomona worth watching beyond the league table. Pretorius arrives averaging 74.25, Boult arrives with two matches’ worth of confirmed wickets and a reputation built well before this tournament. 

The Duel That Frames Match 22

This will be Pretorius’s first confirmed meeting with Boult in MLC 2026.

San Francisco vs MI New York MLC 2026 

San Francisco sat first on the table after beating Washington Freedom in Match 15, going three wins and two losses across their first five games: a loss to LA Knight Riders, a win over Texas, a loss to Texas in the rematch, then wins over Seattle and Washington. Their net run rate heading into Monday has not been confirmed. 

MI New York have beaten Texas by eight wickets in Match 7, Seattle by five runs in Match 17, and LA Knight Riders in Match 20 behind Pooran and Kenjige, after an early loss to Washington Freedom by 30 runs. Their exact table position, like San Francisco’s, has not been confirmed from a live source. 

Pretorius And His Red-Hot Powerplay Numbers 

Pretorius has built his season match by match: 58 off 28 against LA Knight Riders, 69 not out off 55 against Texas, 17 off 15 in the rematch, 87 off 39 against Seattle, and 66 off 26 against Washington Freedom. That run gives him 297 for the season at an average of 74.25. 

That Washington innings included the fastest powerplay fifty on record in MLC, 50 off just 16 balls. How he fares against left-arm pace has not been tracked this season, which makes Monday’s meeting with Boult a genuine unknown. 

The Threat Boult Brings To Pomona 

Boult’s confirmed numbers in MLC 2026 come from two matches: 3 for 18 in four overs against Texas in Match 7, removing Smit Patel in the first over and Rilee Rossouw in the third, then a wicket against Seattle in Match 17, bowling Shayan Jahangir through the gate. His full wicket tally across every appearance has not been confirmed. 

His broader résumé explains the reputation regardless. He holds the record for most wickets in the opening over of a T20 innings, 31 in the IPL alone, and has taken 62 powerplay wickets in 103 IPL innings, the only overseas bowler past 50 in that span. Since 2020, no other bowler has reached 40 powerplay wickets; Boult has 53. He swings the ball across right-handers and back into left-handers, exactly the movement Pretorius has not had to solve. 

The Bigger Picture Before First Ball 

Nicholas Pooran remains MI New York’s captain, leading a side that has found its rhythm as the tournament progressed. The match is scheduled for the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona, a new venue also earmarked for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

Whatever the points table says by the time San Francisco vs MI New York MLC 2026 gets underway, the personal contest between bat and new ball inside it may end up mattering just as much as the result itself.                                                                                                                

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FAQs

What is Lhuan-dre Pretorius’s batting average in MLC 2026?

He is averaging 74.25 through five innings this season. That includes 297 total runs, with his highest score of 87 coming against Seattle Orcas in Match 11. 

How many wickets has Trent Boult taken in MLC 2026?

At least four wickets are confirmed across his two matches so far. He took 3 for 18 against Texas Super Kings and one wicket against Seattle Orcas, though his full season tally hasn’t been verified. 

Where is San Francisco Unicorns vs MI New York being played?

At the Knight Riders Cricket Field at Fairplex in Pomona, California. The venue is new to the tournament this season and is also earmarked for the 2028 Olympics.

Who is MI New York’s captain in MLC 2026?

Nicholas Pooran captains MI New York this season. He has also played a key role with the bat in recent wins, including the victory over LA Knight Riders in Match 20. 

What is San Francisco Unicorns’ position on the MLC 2026 points table?

They were first on the table after Match 15. Their exact position heading into Match 22 has not been confirmed since that update.