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New Zealand’s Finn Allen delivered a T20 masterclass at the Oakland Coliseum, smashing a record-breaking 151 off just 51 balls for San Francisco Unicorns in the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) opener against Washington Freedom.
Finn Allen shatters Chris Gayle’s six-hitting record
In a performance that will echo through cricket history, Allen launched 19 sixes—breaking the previous world record for most sixes in a T20 innings, previously held by Chris Gayle and Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan with 18 each.
Opening the batting alongside Tim Seifert, Allen wasted no time, racing to 40 off 14 balls with five sixes inside the powerplay. His aggressive intent never wavered as he reached his half-century in just 20 balls, before accelerating further to notch his fourth career T20 hundred in a blistering 34 balls—the fastest century in MLC history, surpassing Nicholas Pooran’s 40-ball ton from the previous season.
Allen’s six-hitting spree left Washington Freedom bowlers shell-shocked. He dispatched Saurabh Netravalkar for three consecutive sixes and hammered spinner Glenn Phillips for a hat-trick of maximums in a single over. The highlight came in the 17th over, when Allen pulled his 19th six over deep midwicket, reaching his 150 in just 49 balls—the fastest 150 in all T20 cricket, eclipsing Dewald Brevis’ 52-ball 150 during his scintillating 162 in the CSA T20 Challenge 2022.
Allen’s knock, laced with five fours and 19 sixes, was a testament to his dominance in clearing the ropes rather than relying on ground strokes. He was eventually dismissed in the 18th over, caught by Phillips off Mitchell Owen, while attempting a 20th six.
Allen’s onslaught powered San Francisco Unicorns to a mammoth 269 for 5—the highest-ever men’s T20 total recorded in the United States, eclipsing all previous MLC and American T20 records.
Here’s the video:
Finn Allen's out here breaking records 💯 He smashed the fastest century in MLC history for the @SFOUnicorns! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SVyQ9n99Rf
— Cognizant Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) June 13, 2025
For the unversed, Allen has been unsold in the IPL for three consecutive years, despite his international exploits and now record-breaking feats in franchise cricket.
San Francisco Unicorns register dominant win over Washington Freedom in MLC 2025 opener
San Francisco Unicorns kicked off MCL 2025 with a commanding 123-run victory over Washington Freedom, largely fuelled by an extraordinary century from Allen. Key contributions also came from Sanjay Krishnamurthy (36) and Hassan Khan (38 not out).
Chasing a mammoth 270 for victory, Freedom crumbled to 146 all out in 13.1 overs. Despite valiant efforts from Rachin Ravindra (42) and Mitchell Owen (39), the Unicorns’ bowlers dominated. Haris Rauf (3/30) and Hassan Khan (3/38) led the attack, ensuring a comprehensive win. Allen was deservedly named Player of the Match for his record-breaking performance, signaling San Francisco’s strong start to the season.
Also READ: Major League Cricket 2025 – Complete squads of all six MLC teams
