MLC 2025: Finn Allen surpasses Chris Gayle’s T20 world record in tournament opener

In the first game of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season, youthful opener Finn Allen of New Zealand made history with a record-breaking century. Allen, who was playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, broke the record for the most sixes in a T20 innings, which was previously held by the great Caribbean batsman Chris Gayle, with an incredible 151 off just 51 balls.

Finn Allen reached his half-century in just 20 balls after losing opening partner Tim Seifert early.

The San Francisco Unicorns and the reigning champion Washington Freedom faced off at the storied Oakland Coliseum to begin the third season of MLC. The Unicorns’ opener faced the opposition bowlers after being selected to bat first, hitting 19 sixes in the innings. He recorded the fastest 150 in men’s T20 history, reaching his century in 34 deliveries and then reaching 150 in just 49 balls.

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

Gayle smashed her previous record of eighteen sixes.

In the 18th over, Allen was caught trying to hit his 20th six and ultimately fell on 151. But he had already done enough to beat Sahil Chauhan’s 18 sixes for Estonia in 2024 and Chris Gayle’s previous record of 18 sixes, which was struck during his 146* in the 2017 BPL final.

The Unicorns achieved a noteworthy MLC record total of 269/5. After Allen was dismissed, Hassan Khan (38* off 18) and Sanjay Krishnamurthi (36 off 20) controlled the scoring pace. It was interesting to note that the sum was one of the highest in all T20 competitions worldwide.

Washington Freedom, who were chasing 270, got off to a strong start thanks to openers Mitchell Owen (39 off 20) and Rachin Ravindra (42 off 17), who put up 89 in the first six overs. But at the conclusion of the ninth over, Washington was at 113/6 and needed 157 runs in 66 balls, with the run rate reaching 14.27.

The most sixes in a T20 innings