Finn Allen scored the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, leading New Zealand to a decisive victory over South Africa in the semi-finals.
Historic Performance
Finn Allen delivered a remarkable performance during the T20 World Cup semi-final on March 4, 2026, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. He scored an unbeaten century off just 33 balls, marking the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. This extraordinary feat played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s victory over South Africa by nine wickets.
Match Overview
New Zealand chased down a target of 169 runs, successfully overcoming a South African team that had previously won all seven of their matches in the tournament. The New Zealand openers, including Allen and Tim Seifert, set a strong foundation, scoring 84 runs during the powerplay.
Key Contributions
While Finn Allen’s explosive batting stole the spotlight, Cole McConchie also made significant contributions with the ball, taking two wickets for just 9 runs. South Africa, batting first, managed to score 168 runs, with Marco Jansen leading their efforts with 55 runs off 30 balls. However, they struggled after the powerplay, ending up at 48 for 2.
After the match, Finn Allen expressed his joy, stating, “It was the innings of his life.” South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, reflected on the defeat, saying, “We’ll let the emotions settle first and foremost and once they do we’ll get back on the horse and try and get better.” He added, “But we’re obviously hugely disappointed with the result, it feels like we’ve been slapped in the face.”
This victory is particularly significant as South Africa had previously defeated New Zealand in the group stages of the tournament, making this win a crucial turnaround for the New Zealand team.
Looking Ahead
With this victory, New Zealand advances to the finals, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits to see how they will perform in the championship match. The uncertainties surrounding the final lineup and strategies remain, as teams prepare for the ultimate showdown.
