Welcome to an electrifying start to Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025! In a jaw-dropping display of power-hitting, New Zealand’s Finn Allen has etched his name into the history books with the fastest century in MLC history, reaching the milestone in just 34 balls against Washington Freedom. This extraordinary feat, surpassing Nicholas Pooran’s previous record of a 40-ball ton, set the tone for a commanding performance by the San Francisco Unicorns in the season opener at their home ground.
Allen’s blitzkrieg was nothing short of spectacular. Opening the batting alongside Tim Seifert, the Kiwi dynamo unleashed an unrelenting assault on Washington Freedom’s bowlers from the first over. With a staggering 19 sixes and 5 fours, Allen amassed a monumental 151 runs off 51 balls before being dismissed by Mitchell Owen, caught by Glenn Phillips on the boundary. His innings wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was a statement of intent from the Unicorns, who are determined to dominate this season of MLC, a league that continues to grow as a beacon for cricket in the United States.
The match began with Washington Freedom captain Glenn Maxwell winning the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision driven by uncertainty over the fresh wicket’s behavior. However, this gamble backfired spectacularly as Allen tore into their attack, leaving bowlers like Saurabh Netravalkar and Ben Sears searching for answers. Maxwell himself seemed shell-shocked as Allen cleared the ropes with ease, sending the ball to every corner of the stadium. San Francisco capitalized on the early momentum, posting a daunting total that Washington struggled to chase, ultimately falling short despite a valiant effort from Rachin Ravindra and Maxwell himself.
San Francisco Unicorns captain Corey Anderson was visibly thrilled with the team’s performance. Speaking before the match, Anderson had expressed excitement over playing a home game, noting, “We would’ve bowled first too, but the boys are pumped to finally play in front of our fans. Cricket remains an underdog sport in the US, and MLC is a massive platform to change that.” Allen’s heroics certainly amplified that sentiment, drawing significant attention to the league on social media and among cricket enthusiasts worldwide.
Let’s take a closer look at the line-ups for this blockbuster clash:
Washington Freedom Playing XI: Andries Gous (w), Mitchell Owen, Mukhtar Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Jack Edwards, Glenn Maxwell (c), Glenn Phillips, Obus Pienaar, Ian Holland, Ben Sears, Saurabh Netravalkar
San Francisco Unicorns Playing XI: Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tim Seifert (w), Cooper Connolly, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Corey Anderson (c), Hassan Khan, Liam Plunkett, Xavier Bartlett, Carmi le Roux, Haris Rauf
Allen’s record-breaking knock not only secured a memorable victory for his side but also set a sky-high benchmark for the rest of the MLC 2025 season. As the tournament unfolds, fans will be eager to see if any batter can match or surpass this incredible display of brutal hitting. For now, Finn Allen stands tall as the undeniable star of the opening chapter of MLC 2025, reminding us why T20 cricket continues to captivate audiences with its sheer unpredictability and excitement. Stay tuned for more updates as we bring you the latest from America’s premier T20 league!