Finn Allen breaks multiple records in stunning MLC 2025 opener

New Zealand’s Finn Allen delivered a breathtaking performance in the opening match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, powering San Francisco Unicorns to a massive 123-run win over defending champions Washington Freedom on Friday.

The 26-year-old batter smashed 151 runs off just 51 balls — the fastest 150 in T20 history — breaking Dewald Brevis’s previous record of 52 balls. His knock included an incredible 19 sixes, setting a new record for most sixes in a T20 innings, surpassing the previous joint record of 18 held by Chris Gayle and Sahil Chauhan.

Allen brought up his century in just 34 deliveries, the second-fastest in franchise T20 cricket, only behind Gayle’s 30-ball century in IPL 2013. In total, 134 of his runs came through boundaries — 114 of them in sixes alone.

Despite losing Tim Seifert and Jake Fraser-McGurk early in the powerplay, the Unicorns quickly took control. With support from Hassan Khan (38* off 18) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi, who hammered four sixes in one over, San Francisco posted a massive 269/5 — the highest-ever total in MLC history and the first 250+ score on American soil in T20s.

The Unicorns also hit 28 sixes in their innings, second only to Baroda’s 37 against Sikkim in an Indian domestic match.

In reply, Washington Freedom started strongly, racing to 89/1 in the powerplay. But the momentum didn’t last. Liam Plunkett’s breakthrough in the sixth over triggered a collapse, with Haris Rauf leading the charge. Rauf and Hassan Khan took three wickets each, while Carmi le Roux added two as Freedom were bowled out for 146 in 13.1 overs.

Only Jack Edwards (21) and Ben Sears (15) reached double figures after the early fireworks from Mitchell Owen (39 off 20) and Rachin Ravindra.

Allen’s explosive 151 not only set multiple records but also surpassed Nicholas Pooran’s 137* from the 2023 final as the highest individual score in MLC history. The Unicorns will now look to carry this momentum into their next game against the Los Angeles Knight Riders.