Oakland, California – In what can only be described as a thunderous start to the 2025 Major League Cricket season, New Zealand’s Finn Allen delivered a T20 masterclass that rewrote the record books and left cricket fans in awe.
The setting was just as historic as the innings: the Oakland Coliseum, better known for hosting baseball legends, hosted its first-ever professional cricket match. Over 5,000 fans packed the stands, bearing witness to an electrifying moment in American cricket history.
But it was Allen who turned a symbolic occasion into a full-blown spectacle. Opening the innings for the San Francisco Unicorns, the 25-year-old Kiwi unleashed a batting rampage against the Washington Freedom that yielded a jaw-dropping 151 runs off just 50 balls. His innings featured a staggering 19 sixes—yes, 19—the most ever struck in a men’s T20 match anywhere in the world.
“I just tried to stay present and back my instincts,” Allen told reporters post-match. “It’s one of those days where everything connected.”
He didn’t just entertain—he demolished records. Allen reached his century in just 34 balls, the fastest in Major League Cricket history, and helped San Francisco post an imposing 269/5, setting a new league record for the highest team total.
Washington Freedom, shell-shocked from Allen’s onslaught, never recovered. Haris Rauf and Hassan Khan tore through their lineup, with Washington folding for just 146. The Unicorns walked away with a massive 123-run win—the largest victory margin the league has seen to date.
San Francisco captain Corey Anderson praised his teammate’s efforts, calling it “one of the most dominant performances I’ve ever been part of.” He added, “When Finn’s in that mood, you just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
The Unicorns’ explosive start has set the tone not just for their campaign, but potentially for the entire league. For fans in the U.S. craving world-class cricket, Allen’s bat provided all the fireworks they could ask for—and then some.
With the Oakland Coliseum now officially a cricket venue and the Unicorns firing on all cylinders, the 2025 MLC season just got its first headline act.
