Source: Radio New Zealand
New Zealand’s Finn Allen plays a shot during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup semi-final match against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 4, 2026. AFP
Finn Allen has hit the fastest century in T20 World Cup history as the Black Caps cruised into the 2026 final, with a crushing nine wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata.
Chasing South Africa’s 169 for eight, the Black Caps adopted a hell-for-leather approach, with a 117-run partnership between Allen and Tim Seifert, who hit 58 off 33 balls.
When Seifert was out, Allen took over the mantle as chief attacker, smacking his unbeaten 100 not out in just 33 balls, while Rachin Ravindra was on 13, a mere spectator to Allen’s batting pyrotechnics.
The Black Caps took just 12.5 overs to achieve the stunning win.
Allen hit eight sixes and ten boundaries, causing brief concern when he cramped up hitting one of the sixes, before recovering to continue his assault on the hapless Proteas bowlers.
It was easily the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, his 33-ball innings surpassing former West Indies opener Chris Gayle’s 47-ball effort against England in 2016. He also relegated former Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum to fifth place, for his 51-ball effort against Bangladesh in 2012.
Rachin Ravindra (L) and Finn Allen celebrate the Black Caps’ win over South Africa in their T20 Cricket World Cup semi-final match in Kolkata on March 4, 2026. AFP
Allen, who had a strike rate of 303, said his innings was “pretty up there” with his best efforts.
“We wanted to start looking straight and put them on the back foot early,” he told the Sky Sport broadcast.
With Seifert blazing away early, Allen took a back seat early before stepping up his own attack.
“It’s easy for me when Timmy is going like that, I can just watch it and hit it when it’s in my area and just try to give him the strike,” Allen said.
“He got us away to an absolute flyer.”
‘Pretty pleasing’
Black Caps captain Mitchell Santner said he was pleased with restricting the South Africans in their innings, and the efforts of Allen and Seifert.
“We were happy with 170 (to chase) but you never know,” he said on Sky Sport.
The batting of his openers was ”cool to see,” he said.
The team had learnt from their defeat against South Africa in the group stages, and had introduced spin early this time.
“To put on a performance like that is pretty pleasing.”
It was a shattering experience for South Africa, who had won seven in a row leading into the semifinal, including an easy seven-wicket win over the Black Caps in the group stages.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram rued “an unfortunate evening” and said he was “hugely disappointed.”
“It’s a big, not slap in the face, but it feels like it. But because of that, ultimately, we’ll have to come out stronger and be better as a team moving forward.”
Santner was rewarded for his gamble of asking spinner Cole McConchie in the second over, with the quick wickets of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton.
Fellow spinner Ravindra took two key wickets, and when Jimmy Neesham dismissed the threatening Dewald Brevis (34 off 27), South Africa were 77 for five.
Marco Jansen turned their innings around with a brilliant 55 off 30, combining with Tristan Stubbs (29) to give them what looked at the time a competitive total.
Allen said the Black Caps would celebrate the win before focusing on the final on Sunday (2.30am Monday NZ time).
Their opponents in the final will be decided by tomorrow morning’s semifinal between India and England.
-RNZ
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
