Finn Allen’s Explosive 151 Propels Unicorns to Victory in MLC Opener

OAKLAND – In the inaugural match of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, the San Francisco Unicorns delivered a resounding performance, crushing the defending champions Washington Freedom by 123 runs. This dominant win was fueled by a sensational innings from Finn Allen and a fierce bowling attack spearheaded by Haris Rauf.

After being put in to bat, the Unicorns recovered from early setbacks during the powerplay, where Tim Seifert was dismissed by Jack Edwards and Jake Fraser-McGurk fell to Saurabh Netravalkar. The team then surged to a formidable total of 269/5.

Allen’s Record-Breaking Innings

The innings was highlighted by Allen’s spectacular display, as he hammered 151 runs off just 51 deliveries, marking the fastest 150 in T20 history.

  • Allen’s innings featured a record-breaking 19 sixes, the most in a single T20 innings.
  • He achieved his century in a mere 34 balls and reached 150 in 50 balls before being dismissed on the first ball of the 18th over.

Hassan Khan contributed significantly with a rapid 38 not out from 18 balls, which included three fours and three sixes, adding to the late-innings fireworks.

Sanjay Krishnamurthi played a crucial supporting role in the middle overs, notably hitting Rachin Ravindra for 24 runs in the eighth over with four consecutive sixes.

The Unicorns amassed significant runs in the middle overs, scoring 21, 12, 20, 12, 12, and 22 across six overs, propelling them to 194/3 after 14 overs. Although they didn’t reach 300, their final score set multiple MLC records, presenting a daunting challenge for the Freedom.

Freedom’s Chase Falters

Washington Freedom started their chase aggressively, reaching 89/1 in the powerplay, surpassing the Unicorns’ 67/2 at the same stage.

Mitchell Owen set an aggressive tone with a quickfire 36 off 13 balls, while Ravindra responded with four consecutive sixes off Xavier Bartlett in a 25-run over.

However, the game shifted when Liam Plunkett dismissed Ravindra in the sixth over, followed by Owen’s dismissal in the seventh. Subsequently, the Freedom’s innings collapsed. Only Jack Edwards (15) and Ben Sears (10) managed to reach double figures, as the defending champions were bowled out for 146 in 13.1 overs.

Haris Rauf and Hassan Khan each took three wickets, while Carmi le Roux added two.

The Unicorns aim to maintain their momentum in their upcoming match against the Los Angeles Knight Riders on Saturday afternoon. The Freedom will seek to recover later that day against the Seattle Orcas.