New Zealand opener Finn Allen played a brilliant knock of 151 off 51 balls in the first match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, while playing for San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom, which was played on June 12. Washington won the toss and chose to bowl first as Finn Allen smashed Washington bowlers all around the park, cracking 151 in 51 balls, including 5 fours and 19 sixes with a strike rate of 296.08. Unicorns scored 269/5 in 20 overs and managed to win the match by 123 runs. In this sensational knock, Allen broke records that are highlighted in this piece below:

5. Highest sixes in a T20 Innings

Allen smashed 19 sixes in his 151-run knock in 51 balls during the first MLC 2025 match. He hit 19 sixes, which is the highest by any batter in a T20 innings. The right-hander managed to break the previous record held by Chris Gayle, who had hit 18 sixes during the 2017 Bangladesh Premier League final.

4. Highest score by any batter in the history of MLC

Former West Indian left-hander Nicolas Pooran held the record for scoring an unbeaten 137 in 55 balls while playing for MI New York against Seattle Orcas during the 2023 MLC season, where he hit 10 fours and 13 sixes. Allen managed to break this record by scoring 151 on the 12th of June 2025 while playing for San Francisco Unicorns, thus becoming the highest scorer in a particular match in the history of the tournament.

See Also: WATCH: Rachin Ravindra's consecutive sixes against San Francisco Unicorns in match number 1 of MLC 2025

3. Fastest Centurion in the history of MLC

Allen scored a century in the opening game of the 2025 MLC tournament in just 34 balls. Former West Indian left-hander Nicolas Pooran, who retired from International cricket, earlier held the record for the fastest century in the tournament's history when he scored a century in 40 balls during the 2023 season against Seattle Orcas while playing for MI New York. The right-hander managed to get past this record on 12th June 2025.

2. First Batter to score fastest 150 in a T20 match

Allen scored 150 in just 49 balls during his knock of 151 in 51 balls while playing for San Francisco Unicorns against Washington Freedom on the 12th of June 2025. Earlier, South Africa's Dewald Brewis held the record for the fastest 150 in a T20 game when he had scored 150 in 52 balls in a CSA T20 challenge match for Titans against Knights. Allen got past this record with a brilliant 150 in 49 balls in the 2025 MLC opener.

1. Fastest Century by a New Zealander in T20s

Allen's 34-ball century for San Francisco Unicorns during the opening match of the 2025 MLC campaign is the fastest in the shorter format in any T20 tournament by a New Zealander. Earlier, former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill held this record when he had scored a 35-ball century for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire during the 2018 Vitality Blast T20 tournament. Allen broke this record by scoring a century in 34 balls. 

In Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season 1'st game was kicked off with a bang as the San Francisco Unicorns outplayed Washington Freedom by a huge margin of 123 runs at the Oakland Coliseum, California. 

After being asked to bat first, the Unicorns put on a show, scoring a massive 269 runs for 5 wickets in their 20 overs. The star player was Finn Allen, who scored 151 runs from just 51 balls, hitting boundaries and sixes all over the ground. He got good support from captain Hassan Khan 38 runs in 18 balls and Sanjay Krishnamurthy (36 off 20), helping the team maintain a fast scoring rate throughout. On a tough day for Washington's bowlers, Jack Edwards (2/39), Mitchell Owen (1/33), and Ian Holland (1/30) managed to pick up a few wickets. 

Chasing a huge target, Washington Freedom couldn’t handle the pressure and were all out for just 146 runs in 13.1 overs. Rachin Ravindra 42 runs in 17 balls and Mitchell Owen 39 runs in 20 balls tried to fight back, but the rest of the team couldn’t hold on.

The Unicorns’ bowlers did a great job. Haris Rauf took 3 wickets for 30 runs, Hassan Khan grabbed 3 for 38, and Carmi le Roux took 2 wickets for 35. With this strong win, the San Francisco Unicorns have made a big statement to start their MLC 2025 journey.

ALSO READ: Star Kiwi batter achieves a ground-breaking feat in T20 cricket

Twitter reactions after SF wins 1th match of  MLC 2025

🚨 NEW 🚨
Fans go bananas for San Francisco Unicorns’ first-ever Major League Cricket game at Oakland Coliseumhttps://t.co/IXZIX9ZzEx
Featuring some of the most passionate fruit-adorned spectators you'll ever find.@MLCricket @SFOUnicorns @Oaklandish @MikeNowels @DarrenSabedra pic.twitter.com/5WRpAXJ8vZ

— Christian Babcock (@CB_Journalist) June 13, 2025

MLC 1(1), 🏏 2(2), San Francisco vs. Washington at Oakland Coliseum. And yes, I'm keeping score! @KingcougarMike @rstones199 @sportsroadtrips @anygameanywhere pic.twitter.com/KPJ2QwlRb1

— Tike Narry (@eddiesofficials) June 13, 2025

From 80/1 to 146/10 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡 what a clowning mann!! 😭 #MLC2025 pic.twitter.com/UfWLu6ME9n

— R🦅 (@141ovalclassic) June 13, 2025

THE FASTEST CENTURY IN MLC HISTORY 🤯

Finn Allen, you are something else 🙌#GoCorns pic.twitter.com/kA8Fw5qJiw

— San Francisco Unicorns (@SFOUnicorns) June 13, 2025

Finn Allen playing for San Francisco Unicorns has smacked the fastest hundred in MLC in 34 balls in the opening game of #MLC2025 against Defending champions Washington Freedom.

Oakland Coliseum is hosting the historic opening game in USA 🇺🇸#SFvWF pic.twitter.com/6zxpeVEbZt

— NightWatchMad 🏏 (@NightWatchMad) June 13, 2025

So this first innings of the MLC season is going to teach us one of two things: either San Francisco is really good, or the entire time the league is in Oakland its gonna be glorified batting practice. We'll know more when Washington comes to bat.

Also Finn Allen is really good

— Phil (@PhilMetro96) June 13, 2025

Largest Victory Margin by Runs in history of @MLCricket ➡️ San Francisco Unicorns (123 Runs).#WFvSFU #MLC2025 @SFOUnicorns

— JaayShaan (VaidhyaJayaShankar) (@JaayShaan) June 13, 2025

Flambouyant New Zealand opener Finn Allen set the stage on fire on the opening day of Major League Cricket 2025. Representing San Francisco Unicorns, Allen launched a massive assault on the Washington Freedom bowlers, leaving them completely paralyzed. The 26-year-old went on a rampage, slamming a record-breaking 151 (51) to power the Unicorns to a monstrous total of 269. The Kiwi batter's explosive knock set the tone for a massive win as the San Francisco Unicorns were able to comfortably roll over Washington Freedom and dismiss them cheaply for 146 well inside 15 overs. 

It was certainly an innings of sheer carnage which featured 19 sixes and five boundaries. On the back of such an electrifying knock, Allen has shattered several long-standing records in world cricket. The swashbuckling Kiwi pinch-hitter now has the most number of sixes in a T20 innings, going past the likes of legendary Chris Gayle (vs Dhaka Dynamites in 2017) and Sahil Chauhan (vs Cyprus in 2024), each of whom has hit 18 sixes. Besides, Allen took a meager 49 deliveries to get to his 150, making it the fastest 150 in T20 cricket, eclipsing the previous best record of Dewald Brevis's (150 off 52) against the Knights in South Africa's domestic T20s in 2022.

See also: SF vs WAS Dream11 Prediction Today: Fantasy Cricket Tips Playing11 and Pitch Report 

Most number of sixes in a T20 innings (Top 5)

A major chunk of Allen's runs came on the leg side. The cow corner region was his favorite scoring area where he nailed a countless number of sixes. While a few mighty blows also came over long off and the straighter boundary. Almost no Washington Freedom bowler was spared in this contest. However, Ben Sears, Saurabh Netravalkar, and Mitch Owen were the three main bowlers who paid a heavy price as they were taken to the cleaners by Allen big time.  

His onslaught came to an end during the 18th over when he was removed by Owen when he tried to go downtown over long off but failed to clear the reach of Phillips near the boundary ropes. The Unicorns eventually registered a comfortable win over the Freedom and have climbed to the top of the points table on the back of a thumping 123-run victory. 

Finn Allen Breaks Chris Gayle’s Record for Most Sixes in a T20 Innings 

Date: June 13, 2025
Match: San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom
Venue: Oakland Coliseum, California

Finn Allen, a cricketer from New Zealand, made history in T20 cricket by hitting 19 sixes in one inning. He played for the San Francisco Unicorns against the Washington Freedom in the first game of Major League Cricket 2025, and this was a great performance. Allen hit 19 sixes, breaking the world record of 18 set by West Indies great Chris Gayle. This is why he is one of the most dangerous hitters in modern cricket.

Allen hit 151 runs without getting out in just 51 balls. He got to 100 runs in just 34 balls and 150 runs in just 49 balls. Bowlers couldn't do anything about his aggressive style because he kept clearing the ropes in all directions. The game took place at the Oakland Coliseum in California, and his knock helped the Unicorns achieve one of the highest team totals in U.S. T20 history, 269/5.

Allen's timing and power hitting astounded the audience. Fans knew they were witnessing a unique performance as each six generated excitement. Allen stated after the game that he was just trying to maintain his concentration and make good contact with the ball, but even he was taken aback by how well everything went.

🚨 FINN ALLEN CREATED HISTORY 🚨

- Finn Allen hits Most Sixes in an innings in T20 Cricket History, he surpassed Chris Gayle (19 Sixes). 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6L3xfcziuY

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 13, 2025

ALSO READ:TNPL 2025: SS vs ITT, 9th Match Prediction, Who will win today?

Record-Breaking Performance That Will Be Remembered

Finn Allen's innings not only set records but also sent a message to the cricket world. He hit 19 sixes in one inning, which is more than any other T20 cricket player has ever done. He also became the fastest New Zealand player to score a century and the fastest player in the world to reach 150 runs in T20 cricket.

Cricket fans from all over the world took notice of his explosive knock, which greatly boosted Major League Cricket. For Allen, who had not sold at the most recent IPL auctions, it was also a tale of personal redemption. He has demonstrated his extraordinary talent with this innings and made a compelling case for selection in the world's top leagues.

In a dominant opening clash of the 2025 Major League Cricket (MLC) season between Washington Freedom and San Francisco Unicorns at the Oakland Coliseum, California, Washington Freedom decided to bowl first. This was followed by a batting lesson and a comprehensive all-round show, with the Unicorns thrashing Washington Freedom by 123 runs to secure a convincing victory in Match 1 of the tournament.

San Francisco Unicorns Innings

Batting first in the MLC 2025 opener, the San Francisco Unicorns scored a staggering 269/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of a record knock by Finn Allen, who scythed his way to 151 runs from just 51 balls. His innings included a barrage of boundaries and sixes that destroyed the Washington bowling unit. He was iffy, supported by captain Hassan Khan (38 off 18) and Sanjay Krishnamurthy (36 off 20), which kept the run rate over 13. Washington bowlers had a bad day; however, Jack Edwards (2/39 in 4), Mitchell Owen (1/33), and Ian Holland (1/30) could manage to pick up some wickets.

Washington Freedom Innings

Chasing an enormous target, Washington Freedom collapsed under pressure, getting bowled out for 146 in 13.1 overs. Though Rachin Ravindra (42 off 17) and Mitchell Owen (39 off 20) attempted to stage a resistance, the rest of the team didn't support them. The bowlers of the Unicorns were clinical, topped by Haris Rauf (3/30 in 3.1 overs) and Hassan Khan (3/38 in 4 overs). Carmi le Roux also contributed 2/35, seeing San Francisco begin the tournament in commanding style. A 123-run win by the Unicorns set the tone for the rest of the MLC 2025 campaign.

See Also: SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Day 2 Recap—Key performances and major highlights

San Francisco Unicorns vs Washington Freedom: Match Scorecard

San Francisco Unicorns – 269/5 (20 Overs)

Washington Freedom – 146/10 (13.1 Overs)