New Zealand’s Finn Allen produced a record-breaking innings in Kolkata on Wednesday, blasting the fastest century in T20 World Cup history as the Black Caps defeated South Africa by nine wickets to secure a place in the final.
For South Africa, the result was a painful repeat of familiar knockout disappointment. The team that had dominated much of the 2026 T20 World Cup found themselves undone once the pressure of the semi-final arrived at Eden Gardens. On the night, however, the defining word was not “choke” but “crushed,” as New Zealand delivered a commanding performance to take control of the contest. Having only recently relied on Sri Lanka’s result to keep their qualification hopes alive, the Black Caps displayed the composure and tactical awareness that has long been a hallmark of their cricket. They now advance to the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where they will chase the trophy that narrowly escaped them in 2021.
Allen and Seifert Dominate the Chase
The semi-final unfolded as a dramatic reversal of the group-stage meeting between the two sides 20 days earlier. In that earlier clash, South Africa had comfortably dismantled New Zealand. This time, the roles were reversed as the Black Caps ended the Proteas’ campaign.
Openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert launched a blistering start to the chase, racing to 84 runs during the Powerplay while pursuing a target of 170. The pair, who are set to reunite at Eden Gardens as Kolkata Knight Riders teammates in next month’s IPL, dominated the South African attack from the outset.
Allen led the charge with a stunning unbeaten 100 from just 33 balls. His innings included 10 fours and eight sixes and established a new record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, beating Chris Gayle’s previous mark by 14 balls. New Zealand completed the chase with 7.1 overs remaining, highlighting the scale of their dominance in the semi-final.
Santner Praises Team Performance
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged the strength of the opposition while praising his team’s display in a high-pressure match.
“We knew obviously how good South Africa are, and they’ve shown that throughout the tournament,” said Santner.
“So, to put on a performance like that in a crunch game is obviously pretty pleasing.”
The comprehensive win sends New Zealand into the final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where they will compete for the title at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
