Kolkata, March 4 – Finn Allen delivered one of the most explosive innings in Men's T20 World Cup history, smashing an unbeaten century off just 33 balls as New Zealand secured a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over South Africa at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, qualifying for the final.
Chasing 170, Allen relentlessly attacked the in-form South African bowlers, hitting ten boundaries and eight sixes, rewriting the record books with the fastest century ever scored in the Men's T20 World Cup and the first in a knockout match. It was also his third century in T20Is, and the joint-fastest hundred by a full member batter, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most destructive openers in the shortest format.
Allen's explosive innings was complemented by Tim Seifert, who scored a brisk 58 off 33 deliveries. The pair forged an opening stand of 117 runs, effectively ending South Africa's hopes of defending their total of 169/8. New Zealand's dominant victory also marked their first-ever win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup, setting the stage for a strong final against India in Ahmedabad.
For South Africa, the defeat was another setback in a major ICC knockout match. Despite being unbeaten throughout the tournament and widely tipped as favorites, they struggled to contain Allen's onslaught. Marco Jansen's fighting 55 had earlier helped them reach a competitive score, but Allen's aggressive batting rendered it inadequate, as New Zealand advanced to their second Men's T20 World Cup final.
Chasing 170 on a pitch that had become easier to bat on due to dew, Seifert began by hitting boundaries off Marco Jansen, before being dropped by Quinton de Kock off Kagiso Rabada. Allen then launched his assault by hitting four off Rabada, followed by clearing the straight boundary with authority off Jansen. Seifert continued to score boundaries off Rabada and Jansen, as the pair raced past fifty inside four overs.
In the final over of the powerplay, Allen plundered 22 runs, including four boundaries and a six off Corbin Bosch, as New Zealand reached 91/0 – their highest six-over phase score in Men's T20 World Cup history. Seifert soon reached his half-century off just 22 balls, hitting four off Lungi Ngidi, while Allen got his fifty off 19 deliveries.
The 117-run opening stand ended when Seifert was dismissed by Rabada in the 10th over. Rachin Ravindra joined Allen, who was already in his 70s, and ensured the tempo remained high. Allen continued to attack relentlessly, dispatching Bosch, Maharaj, and Jansen for boundaries with audacious strokes.
Allen's century came in just 33 balls, and he completed the chase by hitting a flat six over mid-off, sealing the victory for New Zealand in a dominant display. His teammates erupted in celebration as New Zealand secured their place in Sunday's final in Ahmedabad, one of the most dominant chases in the tournament's history.
Prior to this, South Africa had been in trouble at 77/5 in 10.2 overs before Jansen steadied the innings by hitting two fours and five sixes to reach his fifty in 27 balls, finishing unbeaten on 55. For New Zealand, Cole McConchie, Rachin Ravindra, and Matt Henry each took two wickets to restrict the Proteas, although they conceded 61 runs in the last five overs.
Quinton de Kock got off to a good start with a stylish four and six, before miscuing to mid-on off McConchie in the opening over. A ball later, McConchie dismissed Ryan Rickelton, who was caught at backward point for a duck.
Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild, with Markram being dropped on three by Rachin Ravindra, and Brevis hitting boundaries off Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham. But Markram eventually fell for 18, caught at long-on off Ravindra in the eighth over.
Brevis continued to be fluent, hitting Ravindra for a six over cow corner and carting Mitchell Santner for another maximum over mid-wicket. But Brevis was eventually dismissed for 34, caught at cover off Neesham in the 11th over, while David Miller too departed for six after holing out to long-on off Ravindra.
Tristan Stubbs joined Jansen, and the pair steadied the Proteas innings. After taking a boundary off Santner, Jansen cleared the long-on fence twice off Ravindra and Henry each. Stubbs, meanwhile, showed signs of acceleration by pulling Henry for four, before driving and clubbing Neesham for a four and six respectively, even as Jansen matched his effort.
Their partnership lifted South Africa past 150, before Stubbs was dismissed by Ferguson in the 19th over. But Jansen continued to attack, bringing up his maiden fifty of the tournament with consecutive sixes off Ferguson. He remained unbeaten on 55, despite losing Corbin Bosch and Kagiso Rabada in the final over, ensuring South Africa reached a competitive total, which was subsequently chased down in a dominant display by Allen.
Brief Scores: South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55 not out, Dewald Brevis 34; Cole McConchie 2-9, Rachin Ravindra 2-29) lost to New Zealand 173/1 in 12.5 overs (Finn Allen 100 not out, Tim Seifert 58; Kagiso Rabada 1-28) by nine wickets.
