MLC 2025: Finn Allen breaks Chris Gayle’s T20 world record in first game

Finn Allen, New Zealand’s young opener, made history with a record-breaking innings in the Major League Cricket (MLC) season opener in 2025.

Allen, who was playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, hit 151 off 51 balls, shattering the long-standing mark for the most sixes in a T20 innings, which had previously been held by famed Caribbean batsman Chris Gayle.

The third edition of MLC began in the famous Oakland Coliseum with a matchup between the San Francisco Unicorns and the defending champions Washington Freedom. After being assigned to bat first, the Unicorns’ opener went on the opposition bowlers, hitting 19 sixes in the process. After losing opening partner Tim Seifert early, Allen reached his half-century in just 20 balls. He hit his century in 34 deliveries and went on to score 150 in 49 balls, the quickest in men’s T20 history.

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

Chris Gayle previous record of 18 sixes broken

Allen finally fell on 151 in the 18th over, caught while attempting his 20th six. However, he had already done enough to surpass Chris Gayle’s previous record of 18 sixes set during his 146* in the 2017 BPL final and Sahil Chauhan’s 18 sixes for Estonia in 2024.

Notably, the Unicorns posted an MLC record total of 269/5. Meanwhile, Sanjay Krishnamurthi (36 off 20) and Hassan Khan (38* off 18) kept the scoring rate in check after Allen’s dismissal. Interestingly, the total was among the biggest in all T20 leagues globally.

Chasing 270, Washington Freedom began well with openers Mitchell Owen (39 off 20) and Rachin Ravindra (42 off 17) getting them off to a flying start, bringing up 89 in the first six overs. However, with the run rate touching 14.27 by the end of the ninth over, Washington was at 113/6 and required 157 runs in 66 balls.

Most sixes in an innings in T20s