Despite some tight bowling from Carmi le Roux (4-0-29-0) and Marcus Stoinis (4-0-28-0), the Seattle Orcas posted 177-4 in the fourth match of the 2023 MLC after Wayne Parnell won the toss and opted to bat. The big innings came from Heinrich Klaasen (53 in 31 balls).

In response, Finn Allen blocked the first ball he faced and edged the second, from Imad Wasim, before exploding in characteristic fashion.

He hit Imad for six. When Parnell replaced Imad for the third over, Allen went four, dot, six, four, four, four, racing to 28 off nine balls.

Matthew Wade then flicked the first ball of the next over, from Cameron Gannon, for a run. At this point, San Francisco were 42-0 in 3.1 overs: they needed 136 in 101 balls with all their wickets in hand.

Back on strike, Allen turned the ball towards mid-wicket and jogged for a single. Former Sri Lanka international Shehan Jayasuriya, playing as a local player in the US-based competition, threw the ball at the non-striker’s end.

Despite the casual jog, Allen had his ground covered. He now tried to plunge his bat into the crease. He had timed it correctly, but his calculations were foiled by his bat, which got stuck in the turf.

As the bat fell from Allen’s hand, the ball hit the stumps, and the umpire ruled Allen run out.

Wade followed not too long afterwards, but Stoinis and captain Aaron Finch took San Francisco to 86-2. Then they perished in the space of three balls, and Seattle bowled out San Francisco for 142 as Gannon claimed 4-23. The only resistance came from Shadab Khan (37 in 23 balls).

Watch Finn Allen get run out at the MLC:

WHAT JUST HAPPENED⁉️

Was this the only way Finn Allen could get out tonight?

HEADS-UP play and a BEAUTIFUL throw from Shehan Jayasuriya!

4⃣2⃣/1⃣ (3.2) pic.twitter.com/GZk5bkYG4Q

— Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 16, 2023