Wednesday 04 / March / 2026
KOLKATA: Finn Allen struck a sensational unbeaten century as New Zealand demolished 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets to reach a second Men's T20 World Cup final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Chasing 170 after a 27-ball half-century from Marco Jansen had rescued South Africa from 77/5, Allen bludgeoned 100 not out from 33 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes, as New Zealand romped to victory with 43 balls to spare. Allen’s century was the fastest century in a men’s T20 World Cup.
Tim Seifert thrashed a brisk half-century of his own (58 off 33) as New Zealand's openers put on 117 runs (55 balls) for the first wicket before Allen kicked into overdrive.
Seifert brought up his half-century in 28 balls while Allen has been in punishing mood, slamming a fifty off just 19 balls—the joint-fastest this World Cup.
Allen smacked 42 runs off just 11 deliveries to dominate his 56-run stand with Rachin Ravindra, including dispatching Jansen for five consecutive boundaries to complete an emphatic win.
New Zealand had charged out of the blocks. The Black Caps rode their luck to score 84/0 in the first six overs. It was the second-highest powerplay score of this World Cup, only two behind India's 86/1 against Namibia.
Kagiso Rabada gave the Proteas the breakthrough as he got through Seifert's defences. But Seifert had already played his part, scoring 58 with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
South Africa were previously unbeaten at this tournament, including a seven-wicket victory over the Black Caps in the initial group phase, but faltered with the bat after losing the toss.
The Black Caps deployed off-spinner Cole McConchie in the second over to test the South African top order. The gamble paid off immediately as he dismissed left-handers Quinton De Kock and Ryan Rickelton off successive deliveries to peg South Africa back to 12/2.
In fine form earlier in the tournament, captain Aiden Markram could not steer them clear out of danger. After a 43-run partnership with Dewald Brevis, Markram fell to a superb diving catch by Daryl Mitchell off Ravindra.
Brevis played a handy knock of 34 and seemed to have the measure of the surface, which was on the slower side. But he did not stay long enough either and ended up chipping the ball straight to cover off James Neesham.
Once reeling at 77/5, Tristan Stubbs and Jansen dragged South Africa back on track with a 73-run partnership off 48 balls. Jansen and Stubbs got stuck into Neesham in the 18th over, plundering 22 runs off it to lend some much-needed momentum to the innings.
Jansen used his long levers and easy power to full effect, bringing up his half-century with back-to-back sixes against Lockie Ferguson. He hit five sixes and two fours to finish unbeaten on 55 off 30 balls.
Brief scores: South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 55*, Dewald Brevis 34; Rachin Ravindra 2/29, Cole McConchie 2/9, Matt Henry 2/34) lost to New Zealand 173/1 in 12.5 overs: (Finn Allen 100*, Tim Seifert 58)
