MLC 2025: Finn Allen smashes fastest century in league history against Washington Freedom | Cricket News

Finn Allen lit up the opening match of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 with a wide ranging century off simply 34 balls — the fastest in the league’s history. His knock helped San Francisco Unicorns make a powerful assertion against Washington Freedom in the season opener. Allen broke Nicholas Pooran’s earlier MLC report of a 40-ball century, showcasing brutal hitting from the very begin. Opening the innings with Tim Seifert, the Kiwi batter launched into the Washington bowlers, smashing boundaries at will and clearing the ropes with ease.Allen was ultimately dismissed for a jaw-dropping 151 off 51 balls, caught by Glenn Phillips off the bowling of Mitchell Owen. His innings included 5 fours and 19 sixes, sending the ball to all corners of the bottom and leaving the opposition bowlers helpless. San Francisco, who had been despatched in to bat after Washington Freedom received the toss, took full benefit of the recent wicket. Glenn Maxwell, captain of Washington, had opted to bowl first, not sure about how the pitch would play. However, the choice backfired as Allen’s onslaught left the bowlers with little margin for error.

San Francisco captain Corey Anderson was upbeat earlier than the match, saying, “We would’ve bowled too. The boys are excited to finally play a home game. Cricket is still an underdog sport in the US, so this league is a big opportunity.”Quiz: Who’s that IPL participant?

Washington Freedom

(Playing XI): Andries Gous(w), Mitchell Owen, Mukhtar Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Jack Edwards, Glenn Maxwell(c), Glenn Phillips, Obus Pienaar, Ian Holland, Ben Sears, Saurabh Netravalkar

San Francisco Unicorns

(Playing XI): Finn Allen, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Tim Seifert(w), Cooper Connolly, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Corey Anderson(c), Hassan Khan, Liam Plunkett, Xavier Bartlett, Carmi le Roux, Haris Rauf Allen’s century marks a robust begin to the brand new MLC season and units a excessive bar for the event forward.