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| @Finn Allen greets the crowd after slamming a century vs WAF in MLC2025 |
June 13, 2025 The San Francisco Unicorns produced a historical display in the inaugural match of Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025, routing the defending champions, Washington Freedom, by an incredible 123 runs at the Oakland Coliseum. It was also the biggest win by margin in MLC history, powered by an assault-like 151-run innings by Finn Allen, consisting of a joint-record 19 sixes and a disciplined bowling performance that saw the back of Freedom’s batters. A repeat of the last season final, the match highlighted the superiority of the Unicorns and established a high-throttle pace of the third season of MLC. Following is the report of the game, its highlights, and its role in MLC 2025.
The Build-Up: Stakes Opener : San Francisco Unicorns had something to prove at MLC 2025 having lost to Washington Freedom in the previous year final by 96 runs. The Unicorns had kept most of their core together in Finn Allen, Matthew Short and Haris Rauf but were missing Pat Cummins and Josh Inglis to international duties. Corey Anderson remained captain, and there were several new faces, including Xavier Bartlett and Tim Seifert strengthening the team. Coached by Ricky Ponting, Washington Freedom had such stars as Glenn Maxwell, who replaced Steven Smith as the captain, and depended on such players as Travis Head and Andries Gous.
Batting Fireworks of Unicorns: The 151* of Finn Allen.
The Unicorns were put in to bat and produced a Masterclass with the bat, scoring a MLC record 269/5 off their 20 overs, surpassing the previous team score record of 246, also set by the Unicorns. The mastermind behind this onslaught was Finn Allen who scored a scorching 151 runs of only 63 balls, an innings which rewrote the rules of T20 batting in the American landscape. His knock was characterized by 19 sixes, a new MLC record and was a demonstration of how he can overpower any disciplined bowling attack. Aggression was the key factor with Allen as he dismantled Freedom bowlers led by Jack Edwards who was the only bowler to give away less than 10 runs per over as he ended with 2/39. Allen was supported by local talent Sanjay Krishnamurthi (36 off 20 balls) and Hassan Khan (38 off 18 balls) who were unbeaten. Their appearances cameos kept the Unicorns rolling when Allen was finally dismissed. The Bay Area fans, who saw MLC play its first game in the Oakland Coliseum, were in store of a treat as power-hitting was the order of the day, and Allen with his 19 sixes wrote his name in the history books of the league. The 269/5 was not just a statement of intent it was also a psychological dent on the defending champions who had been impressive in 2024.
Washington Freedom Response: An Auspicious Beginning
Washington Freedom had an uphill task of chasing 270 and they needed a good start, which was given by their openers, Travis Head and Andries Gous. The two accelerated to 96/1, with Head particularly violent with his strokeplay, smacking a six and a four off Corey Anderson. Gous came in and complemented Head by hitting a six off Tajinder Singh and at the 10-over stage, Freedom seemed to be in the contest. But the bowling attack of the Unicorns, spearheaded by Haris Rauf and Xavier Bartlett, had different intentions.
The Collapse: 96/1 to 146 All Out :
The batting of Washington Freedom fell apart in a spectacular manner following the early blitz. At one time 96/1, they subsided to 146 all out to give the Unicorns a 123-run win. The pace of Haris Rauf and the accuracy of Xavier Bartlett played a crucial role and the two players capitalized on the pressure of the rising run rate. The middle-order comprising Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Maxwell could not respond to the disciplined attack of the Unicorns. The spin of Hassan Khan was especially effective, breaking partnerships, and causing false shots. The defeat was a sharp contrast to the performance of Freedom in 2024 where they had steamrolled the opponents with Ponting leading the team.The Unicorns, this time around, had the last laugh as they highlighted weakness in the Freedom batting depths
Important contributors and Strategic Observations :
The main attraction was Finn Allen, who made 151, but the Unicorns win was a group performance. Sanjay Krishnamurthi (36) gave stability and Hassan Khan (38 and crucial wickets) was widely praised with the bat. The pace bowling of Haris Rauf and Xavier Bartlett was unstoppable, and the experience of playing in high-intensity T20 leagues paid off significantly in the case of Rauf. The only silver lining in an otherwise dull bowling performance by Washington Freedom was the 2/39 by Jack Edwards. Strategically, the move by Unicorns to use pace early and spin in the middle overs gave Freedom a tactical surprise as they could not adjust after losing wickets in the powerplay overs.
relevance in MLC 2025 Context :
It was not a win but a statement as the 123-run victory broke the earlier MLC records such as the 105-run triumph by MI New York over LA Knight Riders in 2023. It highlighted how the Unicorns are favorites to win the 2025 season, following their agony in the 2024 final. It was also a demonstration of the rising stature of MLC as the game was played in the electric atmosphere of Oakland Coliseum which further enhanced the popularity of the league.
Wider Implications to MLC :
The triumph of the Unicorns gave MLC 2025 a high standard to follow since it was a season with 30 league fixtures and four playoff matches spread across three weeks. The third season of the league is focused on making cricket take roots in the U.S. and such shows as the one by Allen are bound to attract new audiences. It was also a demonstration of the influence of the international players such as Allen, Rauf and Bartlett as also the local players such as Krishnamurthi as MLC had a mix of both international and local players. The victory served as a redemption arc to the Unicorns, who lost to Freedom in 2024, and a reminder to the defending champions that it is not easy to defend a title in a competitive league.
Conclusion :
On June 13, 2025, the San Francisco Unicorns thumped Washington Freedom by 123 runs, and this was a historical event in the MLC history. A Finn Allen record 151, along with a merciless bowling display, gave Northern Suburbs the largest victory in the short history of the league and gave notice of an entertaining season ahead. Played before a spirited Oakland crowd, the game was a testimony of the rising popularity of MLC as well as the desire of the Unicorns to avenge their loss to the Vipers. By the time the 2025 season rolls out, this match would be recalled as an illustration of the entertainment value of T20 cricket and how the Unicorns can challenge any team to win the MLC
Brief Scores :
SFU Innings : 269/5 (20 Overs) Finn Allen 151 off 51 Balls (5 Fours And 19 Sixes), Hassan Khan 38* off 18 Balls (3 Fours And 3 Sixes).
WAF Bowling : Jack Edwards 2/39 (4 Overs), Mitchell Owen 1/33 (3 Overs)
WAF Innings : 146/10 (13.1 Overs)
Rachin Ravindra 42 off 17 Balls (2 Fours And 5 Sixes), Mitchell Owen 39 off 20 Balls (4 Fours And 3 Sixes).
SFU Bowling : Haris Rauf 3/30 (3.1 Overs), Hassan Khan 3/38 (4 Overs).
Player of the Match : Finn Allen
Result : San Francisco Unicorns Won by 123 Runs.