Kieron Pollard Sets New T20 Run-Scoring Record

Pollard Achieves Historic T20 Milestone

Kieron Pollard has etched his name in T20 cricket history by becoming the all-time leading run-scorer in men's T20 matches. This achievement came during his century for MI New York in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 on Saturday, where he scored an impressive 100 runs off 56 balls against Washington Freedom. With this performance, Pollard surpassed the previous record held by Chris Gayle.

Pollard's total now stands at 14,582 runs from 736 matches, overtaking Gayle's 14,562 runs. This milestone highlights Pollard's remarkable career longevity, as he is the only player to have participated in over 700 T20 matches, showcasing his talent in various leagues worldwide for nearly two decades.

Owen's Spectacular Performance Leads to Victory

Despite Pollard's historic innings, MI New York faced a 30-run defeat against Washington Freedom, who set a formidable target of 246 runs after scoring 245 for 5. The match was significantly influenced by Australian all-rounder Mitchell Owen, who delivered a stunning performance with 155 runs off just 68 balls, marking the highest individual score in MLC history. Owen reached his century in just 41 balls, demonstrating his explosive batting skills.

Contributions from Steve Smith and Mark Chapman further bolstered Freedom's innings, setting MI New York a challenging target.

MI New York's Struggles Despite Pollard's Efforts

MI New York's chase began poorly, losing Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel in the first over, followed by Nicholas Pooran's dismissal by Glenn Maxwell, leaving the team in a precarious position at 64 for 5. However, Pollard mounted a spirited comeback, forming crucial partnerships with Romario Shepherd and Corbin Bosch, while also achieving his second T20 century.

Pollard's century came off the last ball of the innings, finishing with 11 fours and four sixes, but it wasn't enough to secure victory.

Current T20 Run-Scoring Leaders

Despite the loss, Pollard's achievement places him at the top of the T20 run-scoring leaderboard. Following him are Chris Gayle with 14,562 runs, Alex Hales at 14,449, Jos Buttler with 14,371, David Warner at 14,284, and Virat Kohli with 14,218 runs. These six players are the only ones to have surpassed the 14,000-run mark in T20 cricket.