New Zealand’s Finn Allen produced a master class performance to hit the fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history as the Kiwis cruised to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in Kolkata on Wednesday to book their place in the final.Chasing 170 in the first semi-final, Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, surpassing Chris Gayle’s previous record of 47 deliveries as New Zealand cruised to victory with 7.1 overs to spare.
India arrive for the final net session before the T20 World Cup semi-finals
Allen finished in style, hitting a four, two sixes and another four off consecutive balls to seal the victory and celebrate his record hundred at the Eden Gardens. Tim Seifert also played with 58, sharing 117 runs with Allen in just 9.1 overs. Seifert hit seven fours and two sixes, while Allen unleashed eight sixes and 10 fours in an awe-inspiring display of controlled power.“We were trying to get in good positions and perform for the team. (Opening partnership plan) We wanted to get off to a good start and put them on the back foot early. It was easy for me with Timmy going like that. I can just watch and get him on strike. He was batting on the flyer. Huge game for us. Timmy and I just made sure we looked straight and went hard,” said Allen, who was named player match.“(Adapting to different heights and aggressiveness) You adapt to the wicket. Training is really important to get a feel for the wicket. We knew it was going to be a pitch, we had that information. It shows how important that series was before the World Cup,” he added.New Zealand, who cruised into the semi-finals on a clean sweep, will face either India or England in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad as they bid for their first World Cup title. “(When you get to the final) You take the positives from the game and celebrate a little bit, but you can look forward to the final on Sunday,” Allen said.Earlier, spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie claimed two wickets each to restrict South Africa to 169-8 after New Zealand opted to field first. Vice-up 2024, led by Aiden Markram, were unbeaten in seven matches but were reduced to 77-5 before Marc Jansen’s unbeaten 55 restored some respectability.Seifert reached his fifty off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, while Allen brought up his half-century in just 19 balls. Kagiso Rabada accounted for Seifert in the 10th over, but that was South Africa’s only success in the chase.Earlier in the innings, McConchie struck in the second over, removing Quinton de Kock on 10 and Ryan Rickelton on the next ball, although Dewald Brevis avoided a hat-trick. Ravindra trapped Markram on 18, caught in the deep by Daryl Mitchell and five balls later David Miller fell for six, also to Ravindra and Mitchell.South Africa lost half their team in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham dismissed Brevis for 34. Tristan Stubbs contributed 29 before falling to Lockie Ferguson, while Jansen smashed two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball unbeaten run, including a six off Ferguson to reach his fifty.Fast bowler Matt Henry, who only returned on Tuesday night after returning home for the birth of his child, finished with 2-34 to give the Kiwis an early boost.
