Hammad Azam guides San Francisco Unicorns to thrilling GSL win
San Francisco Unicorns secured a hard-fought five-run victory over Perth Scorchers XI in their Global Super League (GSL) 2026 clash at Providence Stadium on Sunday, thanks to an outstanding all-round team performance led by Hammad Azam.
After being put under pressure early in their innings, the Unicorns recovered impressively to post 152-8 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation of the total was laid by Hammad Azam, who produced a composed unbeaten knock of 64 from 46 deliveries.
The Unicorns’ batting line-up struggled at the start, slipping from 42-1 to 46-5 inside the opening six overs as the Scorchers’ bowlers dominated with the new ball. With wickets falling regularly, Hammad steadied the innings and prevented a complete collapse.
He mixed caution with aggression, striking four boundaries and five sixes during his match-defining innings. His ability to rotate the strike while punishing loose deliveries helped the Unicorns recover from a difficult position and reach a competitive total.
Chasing 153 for victory, Perth Scorchers XI also found themselves in early trouble. Opener Andre Fletcher was dismissed for just one in the opening over, while Joel Curtis managed only 16 before departing.
Experienced batter D’Arcy Short anchored the chase with a patient 43, attempting to guide his side through the middle overs. He built useful partnerships with Usman Khan, who scored 14, and Ashton Turner, who contributed 13. Despite those efforts, regular wickets kept disrupting the chase and prevented the Scorchers from building lasting momentum.
The turning point came in the 16th over when Short was dismissed with the score on 103-7, leaving Perth Scorchers XI with a difficult task in the closing stages of the innings.
Just when the contest appeared to be slipping away, Brody Couch produced a spirited late assault to revive his team’s hopes. The lower-order batter blasted 23 runs from only 12 balls, smashing two fours and two sixes in an entertaining cameo.
Couch and Akeal Hosein added 39 runs for the ninth wicket, reducing the target significantly and setting up a tense finish. Hosein also played an important supporting role with 16 runs as the pair pushed the match into the final over.
However, the Unicorns held their composure under pressure. Hosein was dismissed on the penultimate delivery of the innings, ending the Scorchers’ hopes of completing a remarkable comeback. Perth Scorchers XI finished on 147-9, falling just five runs short of the target.
With the ball, Ghulam Mudassar delivered a match-winning spell for San Francisco Unicorns, claiming four wickets at crucial moments to derail the Scorchers’ chase. His breakthroughs, combined with disciplined bowling in the closing overs, ensured the Unicorns successfully defended their total.
Hammad Azam’s unbeaten half-century and Ghulam Mudassar’s four-wicket haul proved decisive as San Francisco Unicorns registered a memorable victory in a closely contested Global Super League encounter, strengthening their campaign with an impressive all-round performance.
