In a breathtaking display of power-hitting, New Zealand opener Finn Allen etched his name into cricket history by slamming the fastest century in T20 World Cup annals. The explosive batsman achieved this feat against South Africa in the first semi-final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Wednesday, propelling his team into the final with effortless dominance.
Allen needed just 33 balls to reach his unbeaten 100, peppering the boundary with 10 fours and 8 massive sixes. South Africa’s bowlers, caught off guard, resembled club-level trundlers as Allen dismantled their attack. This knock not only broke Chris Gayle’s previous record of a 47-ball ton from the 2016 edition against England but also stands as the highest score in a T20 World Cup knockout match, surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 96 not out from 2009.
New Zealand’s chase of 170 was a cakewalk. After South Africa posted 169 for 8, with Marco Jansen top-scoring on 55, the Kiwis raced to 173 for 1 in just 12.5 overs. Tim Seifert contributed 58 off 33 balls, while Rachin Ravindra remained not out on 13 off 11. Allen’s masterclass earned him the Player of the Match award, marking him as the third New Zealander to score a T20 World Cup hundred, following Brendon McCullum’s 123 in 2012 and Glenn Phillips’ 104 in 2022.
This semi-final triumph sends New Zealand into the final brimming with confidence, with Allen’s record-breaking innings set to be remembered as one of the greatest in limited-overs cricket lore. Fans worldwide are already buzzing about what the young star might unleash next.