Finn Allen Hits Fastest Century as Unicorns Dominate Freedom in Oakland
The San Francisco Unicorns lit up the Oakland Coliseum in their first-ever Major League Cricket (MLC) home game on June 12, demolishing the Washington Freedom by 123 runs in front of a raucous Bay Area crowd. Kiwi star Finn Allen stole the show with a jaw-dropping 151 from just 51 balls, smashing the record for most sixes in a professional T20 innings and powering his team to an MLC-record total of 269.
With actor and team ambassador Kunal Nayyar watching from the stands, Allen signaled his intent early, ramping a six off Ben Sears in just the second over. Opening alongside fellow New Zealander Tim Seifert, who made a brisk 18, Allen launched the innings into overdrive, helping the Unicorns blast 65 in the first five overs.
The excitement grew as local favorite Sanjay Krishnamurthi entered the crease following Jake Fraser-McGurk’s dismissal. Krishnamurthi didn’t disappoint, hammering three consecutive sixes off Rachin Ravindra and energizing the Oakland crowd. Together with Allen, they continued the onslaught, reaching 150 in quick time. Krishnamurthi’s fiery knock of 36 off 20 ended when he found Glenn Maxwell at the boundary.
Debutant Cooper Connolly joined Allen, who by then had already reached his second MLC century — the fastest in league history from just 34 balls. Allen continued his six-hitting spree before finally falling for a staggering 151. Hassan Khan and captain Corey Anderson then guided the team to a record-breaking 269/5.
In reply, Washington Freedom started aggressively. Mitchell Owen and Ravindra launched a fierce counterattack, racking up 63 runs in the first four overs. But their momentum was short-lived. Plunkett’s clever bowling ended Ravindra’s quick-fire 42, thanks to a sharp boundary catch by Fraser-McGurk.
Owen was run out for 39 after a mix-up, and Haris Rauf then wreaked havoc, removing Maxwell LBW and bowling Glenn Phillips for a golden duck. The middle and lower order collapsed under pressure, with Khan and Le Roux striking repeatedly. USA international Andries Gous and Jack Edwards offered brief resistance, but their dismissals sealed Freedom’s fate.
Rauf, Khan, and Le Roux cleaned up the tail, bowling out Washington for 146 and securing the Unicorns’ massive 123-run victory — their first win at the Coliseum. The team now looks ahead to a high-voltage matchup against the LA Knight Riders in the “California Clash.”
Brief Scores:
San Francisco Unicorns 269/5 (Finn Allen 151, Hassan Khan 38)
Washington Freedom 146 all out (Rachin Ravindra 41, Haris Rauf 3/30)
Result: Unicorns won by 123 runs.
