Kieron Pollard etched his name even deeper into cricket history with a memorable century for MI New York in Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026, becoming the highest run-scorer in men’s T20 cricket. The former West Indies captain surpassed long-time record holder Chris Gayle during his unbeaten 100 against Washington Freedom, reaching the landmark in trademark fashion with a towering six. Although MI New York fell 30 runs short in a high-scoring contest, Pollard’s personal milestone stole the spotlight and marked another extraordinary achievement in one of the most decorated T20 careers ever witnessed.
Kieron Pollard reaches the summit of T20 batting records
The 39-year-old produced a vintage display of power-hitting, finishing unbeaten on 100 from 56 deliveries and rewriting the record books in the process. His innings took his overall T20 run tally to 14,582 from 736 matches, moving him ahead of Chris Gayle’s previous mark of 14,562 runs.
The feat highlights Pollard’s remarkable consistency and longevity across franchise leagues worldwide. Having represented teams in competitions spanning the Caribbean, India, Australia, Pakistan, England, South Africa and the United States, he has maintained his status as one of the most feared finishers in the shortest format for nearly two decades.
Adding further weight to his legacy, Pollard remains the only cricketer to have appeared in more than 700 T20 matches, a testament to both his fitness and enduring demand in franchise cricket.
Century arrives amid dramatic chase after Freedom’s batting blitz
While Pollard celebrated a personal triumph, Washington Freedom emerged victorious after posting a daunting 245 for 5. The foundation of that total was laid by Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who produced a spectacular innings of 155 off just 68 balls.
Owen’s breathtaking assault included a century in only 41 deliveries and established the highest individual score in Major League Cricket history. His explosive batting, complemented by valuable contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman, left MI New York facing a mammoth chase of 246.
The reply could hardly have begun worse. Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel were dismissed in the opening over before Nicholas Pooran followed soon after, leaving MI New York in deep trouble. With wickets tumbling regularly and the scoreboard reading 64 for 5, Washington Freedom appeared firmly in control.
Lone battle from Pollard cements an already legendary career
Refusing to surrender, Pollard launched a determined counterattack that reminded fans of his destructive best. He combined aggression with composure, building useful partnerships with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch while keeping hopes of an unlikely chase alive.
The experienced all-rounder struck 11 fours and four sixes during his unbeaten innings and reached his century off the very last ball of the match, registering only the second T20 hundred of his illustrious career.
Although MI New York ultimately lost by 30 runs, Pollard’s innings ensured the contest will be remembered for more than just the result. By overtaking Gayle, he now stands alone at the top of the men’s T20 run-scoring charts. Gayle occupies second place, followed by Alex Hales, Jos Buttler, David Warner and Virat Kohli, making Pollard’s achievement even more significant in an era packed with elite white-ball batters.
