Finn Allen scores the fastest century in a T20 World Cup as New Zealand crushes South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final.
Published March 4, 2026
New Zealand stormed into the Twenty20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket demolition of South Africa in the first semi-final at Eden Gardens.
Put into bat, South Africa recovered from a precarious 77-5 to post a competitive 169-8 after Marco Jansen led their comeback with a belligerent 55 not out.
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However, Finn Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off 33 balls and shared a 117-run opening stand with Tim Seifert (58) as New Zealand cruised towards their target in just 12.5 overs.
Allen’s achievement was the fastest century scored in a T20 World Cup.
“We wanted to get off to a good start and put them on the defensive from the start,” Allen said. “It’s easy for me when Tim (Seifert) behaves like that. The way he hit took us into absolute flight.
“It’s easy in the semi-finals to stay awake for the fight and with Tim (Seifert) we stay at it and enjoy it together.”
Jansen’s earlier fifty came in response to Kiwi spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie taking two wickets each before Tristan Stubbs and Jansen scored 73 to rescue the innings at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens.
Stubbs (29) and Jansen, who hit two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball knock, helped New Zealand reach the target of 170 to reach the final.
India successfully chased down 196 against the West Indies on Sunday on the same ground.
South Africa was the only unbeaten team in the tournament, while New Zealand had reached the semi-finals on net run rate.
McConchie struck first in the second over with his spin to return Quinton De Kock for 10 and the next ball from Ryan Rickelton, but Dewald Brevis prevented the hat-trick.
Aiden Markram was reprieved for three when Ravindra left him at mid-wicket, off-pace bowler Lockie Ferguson.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra made amends when Daryl Mitchell trapped the South Africa captain in the deep for 18.
Glenn Phillips dropped David Miller for three, but fell for six to Ravindra five balls later, and Mitchell again caught him at long-on.
South Africa had lost half their team in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham broke Brevis’ knock on 34.
Ferguson bowled Stubbs, but Jansen hit him for six to reach his fifty.
Bowler Matt Henry, who returned only on Tuesday night after returning home to attend the birth of his son, took 2-34.
South Africa’s bowling figures will be something we will quickly forget, as the figures to focus on (and the moment to remember) belonged to Allen.
“You take the positives from this game, you celebrate the little moments of success,” Allen added. “Then we have a final to play on Sunday and we’re looking forward to it.”
Defending champions India will face two-time champions England in the second semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday, before the final on Sunday.
