In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, New Zealand opener Finn Allen rewrote the record books in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season opener, smashing an astonishing 151 runs off just 49 balls for the San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom at the iconic Oakland Coliseum on Thursday. His extraordinary innings, studded with a world record 19 sixes, not only set multiple T20 records but also propelled his team to a towering total of 269/5—the highest in MLC history.
Allen’s knock was a masterclass in aggressive batting, as he broke numerous milestones in a single match. He raced to the fastest 150 in T20 cricket history, eclipsing previous records with sheer dominance. En route, he claimed the fastest century in MLC, reaching the three-figure mark in just 34 balls, and became the first New Zealand batter to record the quickest T20 hundred for his country. His 19 sixes also shattered the previous record of 18, jointly held by Chris Gayle and Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, marking a new pinnacle in men’s T20 cricket.
The carnage began after the Unicorns lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Allen wasted no time, smashing 40 runs off 14 balls in the Powerplay, including five towering sixes. He reached his fifty in a blistering 20 balls, and from there, it was a relentless assault. Twice, he hammered three sixes in a single over, leaving the Washington Freedom bowlers shell-shocked. His record-breaking 19th six came in the 17th over, before he was dismissed in the next while attempting to clear the boundary for an unprecedented 20th time.
The San Francisco Unicorns, who were runners-up in the previous season, now hold the distinction of posting the highest team total in MLC history with their 269/5, surpassing all previous benchmarks in the league’s third season. Allen’s contribution was complemented by solid support from the middle order, though the spotlight remained firmly on the 26-year-old Kiwi dynamo.
Known for his explosive style, Allen’s career stats further underline his destructive potential. With over 4,100 T20 runs in 151 innings at a staggering strike rate of 173.27—the highest among batters with a minimum of 1,000 runs—he is a force to be reckoned with. Earlier in 2024, Allen had smashed 137 off 62 balls against Pakistan in a T20I, hitting 16 sixes to match Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai for the most in a T20I innings and breaking Brendon McCullum’s New Zealand record. His T20I strike rate of 163.27 is also the best among Kiwi batters, solidifying his reputation as a game-changer.
As the dust settles on this historic performance, Finn Allen’s name will be etched in cricketing lore. His record-shattering innings not only highlights his individual brilliance but also signals the Unicorns’ intent to dominate MLC 2025. Can anyone stop this powerhouse batter in the matches to come? Cricket fans across the globe will be eagerly watching.