In a moment that took the cricketing world by surprise, Finn Allen’s unusual dismissal in the 2023 Major League Cricket (MLC) match between San Francisco Unicorns (SFU) and Seattle Orcas (SEO) has gone viral on social media, generating a buzz among fans.
The incident unfolded during the fourth over of the Unicorns’ run-chase of 177. Cameron Gannon, the Orcas’ fast bowler, delivered the second ball of his over to Allen, who played a defensive shot towards mid-on and seemed to take a casual stroll.
However, Shehan Jayasuriya, displaying exceptional awareness, swiftly picked up the ball and hit the stumps directly, catching Allen short of his crease.
While the fielders found humour in the situation and shared a laugh, Allen appeared stunned and bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.
Alan Wilkins, commenting on the match, expressed his disappointment with the young New Zealand player, describing the dismissal as “just comedy”.
This marked Allen’s second consecutive disappointment after his score of 10 (5) against MI New York in the Unicorns’ opening game of the tournament.
Here’s the video:
WHAT JUST HAPPENED⁉️
Was this the only way Finn Allen could get out tonight?
HEADS-UP play and a BEAUTIFUL throw from Shehan Jayasuriya!
4⃣2⃣/1⃣ (3.2) pic.twitter.com/GZk5bkYG4Q
— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 16, 2023
As far as the result of the recent match is concerned, the Orcas defeated the Unicorns by 35 runs. The Orcas put up a competitive total of 177 for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 20 overs, despite the disciplined bowling efforts of Carmi le Roux (4-0-29-0) and Marcus Stoinis (4-0-28-0). Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Wayne Parnell’s decision paid off as the Orcas’ batsmen delivered a strong performance. The standout knock came from Heinrich Klaasen, who scored a crucial 53 runs off just 31 balls.
In response, the Unicorns struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 142 runs in 17.5 overs. The only notable resistance came from Shadab Khan, who fought valiantly and scored 37 runs off 23 balls. However, the other Unicorns’ batters failed to provide substantial support, leading to their side’s downfall.
