Major League Cricket (MLC)'s third season has begun with a bang. The opening match between the San Francisco Unicorns and the Washington Freedom provided spectators with plenty of excitement.
Major League Cricket 2025: The start of Major League Cricket (MLC)'s third season surprised and thrilled cricket fans alike. The tournament's first match, played between the San Francisco Unicorns and the Washington Freedom, set numerous record-breaking milestones.
Batting first, the San Francisco Unicorns amassed a massive score of 269 runs—the highest ever team total in MLC history. This score was built on the foundation of Finn Allen's explosive batting performance, where he smashed 151 runs off just 51 balls.
MLC Sees First-Ever Score Over 250 Runs
In the previous two seasons of MLC, no team had ever crossed the 250-run mark. Previously, the San Francisco Unicorns' highest score was 215 runs, achieved in 2023 against MI New York. This time, however, the Unicorns shattered their own record with a massive 269-run total. While Finn Allen's contribution was extraordinary, Hasan Khan's valuable 38 runs also maintained the team's momentum.
Finn Allen Hits the Fastest Century in MLC History
Finn Allen's batting display was utterly destructive. He achieved a century in just 34 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century in MLC. The previous record was held by Nicholas Pooran, who scored a century off 40 balls for the Seattle Orcas in 2023. Allen surpassed this record, setting a new benchmark in Major League Cricket.
The most striking feature of Finn Allen's innings was the number of sixes he hit. He smashed 19 sixes—the highest number of sixes in any MLC innings. He also hit five fours and scored at a strike rate of 296 from just 51 balls. His innings was a remarkable example of technique, aggression, and confidence. Bowlers were powerless against him, as the ball flew in all directions.
Surpassing Rielkert and du Plessis
Finn Allen's 151-run innings made him the highest individual scorer in MLC history. The previous record was held by Ryan Rielkert, who scored 103 runs in 2024. Allen not only surpassed this figure but also established a new standard by exceeding it by more than 50 runs. Allen also became the third batsman to score a century in MLC, following Rielkert and Faf du Plessis.
