A relentless New Zealand hit a record 33-ball century off opener Finn Allen to edge South Africa by nine wickets and storm into the T20 World Cup final in Kolkata on Wednesday.
Allen smashed 10 fours and eight sixes to chase down 170 in just 12.5 overs, leaving the entire South African team awestruck.This century, the fastest in T20 World Cup history, was a display of sheer power and timing rarely seen at Eden Gardens. Allen’s dominance on the front foot and impeccable shot selection saw him come off the ropes consistently, with the last 24 overs – from 76 to 100 – coming off just five deliveries from Marko Janssen, whose 2.5-over 53-over spell turned into a nightmare.
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New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, never looked like a loser. The spinners laid the foundation, restricting the Proteas to just under 169 for 8. Cole McConchie (2/9) and Rasheen Ravindra (2/29) took advantage of the early grip of Eden’s run, dismantling the top order with precision, while Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) and Jansen (54* off 30) rescued the innings, adding a sixth partnership of 73 runs thereafter. South Africa fell to 77/5.
Janssen’s innings featured five towering sixes, with several landing deep into the stands, providing some respectability to the total.Then Allen and Tim Seifert stole the show. Seifert scored 58 off 33 balls, putting together a whirlwind 117-run opening stand with Allen in just nine overs. The pair hit 13 boundaries and six sixes, effectively ending the contest inside the powerplay. Seifert reached his fifty off 33 balls, while Allen completed his half-century in just 19 deliveries, despite taking a short medical reprieve.Eden’s track, which had been a little slower earlier in the day, became ideal for stroke play as the dew settled, and the Kiwi opener took advantage brilliantly. Allen’s ability to pick the length and direct the ball to all parts of the ground left South Africa in shock. By the time he hit his record century, New Zealand had already taken control, concluding the chase with 7.1 overs to spare.The victory marks New Zealand’s second appearance in a T20 World Cup, following their 2021 summit encounter in the United Arab Emirates. If India beats England in Mumbai on Thursday, the final will be a repeat of last year’s European Champions Trophy final.For South Africa, it was a frustrating night. Despite Jansen’s heroic 54* and Stubbs’ contribution, the Proteas were undone by a lethal combination of mid-on spin and Allen’s audacious batting. Dewald Brevis (34 off 27) and Aiden Markram (18) were unable to stabilize the innings, and the top-order collapse left the side chasing shadows. Kagiso Rabada, Luji Ngidi and Corbin Bosch struggled to contain the Kiwis’ opening kicks, while Janssen’s earlier failure to handle the ball compounded the misery.
