Finn Allen hits quickest century at a T20 World Cup as New Zealand crush South Africa by 9 wickets to achieve last.
Printed On 4 Mar 2026
New Zealand stormed into the Twenty20 World Cup last with a nine-wicket demolition of South Africa in the primary semifinal on the Eden Gardens.
Put into bat, South Africa recovered from a precarious 77-5 to put up a aggressive 169-8 after Marco Jansen led their restoration with a belligerent 55 not out.
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Finn Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off 33 balls, nevertheless, and shared a 117-run opening stand with Tim Seifert (58) as New Zealand romped to their goal in solely 12.5 overs.
Allen’s achievement was the quickest century scored at a T20 cricket World Cup.
“We needed to start out properly and put them on the again foot early,” Allen mentioned. “It’s simple for me when Tim [Seifert] goes like that. The way in which he batted bought us off to an absolute flyer.
“It’s simple in semifinals to watch for the struggle, and with Tim [Seifert] we hold one another in it, and we take pleasure in it on the market collectively.”
Earlier, Jansen’s fifty got here in response to the Kiwis’ spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie taking two wickets every earlier than Tristan Stubbs and Jansen placed on 73 to rescue the innings at Kolkata, India’s Eden Gardens.
Stubbs (29) and Jansen, who hit two fours and 5 sixes in his 30-ball knock, helped set New Zealand a goal of 170 to achieve the ultimate.
India efficiently chased 196 in opposition to the West Indies on Sunday on the identical floor.
South Africa have been the one unbeaten crew within the match, whereas New Zealand had edged into the semifinals on internet run price.
McConchie struck first within the second over together with his off-spin to ship again Quinton de Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton subsequent ball, however Dewald Brevis averted the hat-trick.
Aiden Markram was reprieved on three when Ravindra dropped him at mid-wicket off tempo bowler Lockie Ferguson.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra made amends when he had the South Africa captain caught within the deep by Daryl Mitchell for 18.
David Miller was dropped on three by Glenn Phillips, however fell for six to Ravindra 5 balls later, with Mitchell once more taking the catch at long-on.
South Africa had misplaced half their facet in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham reduce brief Brevis’s knock on 34.
Ferguson bowled Stubbs, however Jansen hit him for six to achieve his fifty.
Tempo bowler Matt Henry, who arrived again solely on Tuesday evening after going dwelling for the delivery of his youngster, took 2-34.
The bowling figures for South Africa can be ones to shortly overlook, because the figures to give attention to – and the second to recollect – belonged to Allen.
“You are taking the positives from this recreation, have a good time little moments of success,” Allen mentioned. “Then now we have a last to play on Sunday, and we stay up for that.”
Defending champions India tackle two-time champions England within the second semifinal in Mumbai on Thursday, forward of Sunday’s last.
