Record-Breaking Carnage! Finn Allen’s blistering ton powers New Zealand to 9-wicket demolition of South Africa

New Zealand beat South Africa by 9 wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final 1 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Finn Allen scored a brilliant century to chase down the target of 170 in just 12.5 overs. As the Kiwi opener was berserk from the very start of the innings smashed 10 fours and 8 sixes.

Coming to the match, the Black Caps won the toss and elected to field first. Mitchell Santner just made one change in the side, with Jimmy Neesham coming in for Ish Sodhi. Aiden Makram made three changes from their last win against Zimbabwe.

Marco Jansen's heriocs goes in vain

Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj are coming back to the side. The Proteas had a decent start, but lost two quick wickets with 12/2, and since then they failed to recover and were struggling at 77/5. There was a controversial catch from Daryl Mitchell, which was given out, and two drop catches from Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips.

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Later, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen put up a partnership of 73 runs for the 6th wicket. This partnership helped the side to score 150 before the former was dismissed on the score of 29 off 24 balls. Though a Marco Jansen masterclass, of 55* off 30 deliveries, helped his side to score 169/8 in the 20 overs.

Rachin Ravindra, Cole McConchie, and Matt Henry picked up two wickets each, and Lockie Ferguson and Jimmy Neesham picked up one wicket each.

Finn Allen show for New Zealand

Coming out chase a target of 170, Tim Seifert and Allen were absolutely lethal from the very first over. The two batters charged down the South Africa bowlers and scored 84/0 in the powerplay. The two batters stitched a partnership of 117 for the first wicket.

Seifert was dismissed on the score of 58 off 33 balls, smashing seven fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Allen was lethal as the Kiwi opener scored the fastest century in the history of Men's T20 World Cups. It was a statement win for the Kiwis over the 2024 T20 World Cup finalist.

Allen was unbeaten till the end with the score of 100* off 33 balls. Rachin was more of an anchorer scoring 13 off 11 balls. Kagiso Rabada was the only wicket-taker for the Proteas. The Black Caps will be waiting to face India/ England, who face each other tomorrow in semi-final 2.

Fans react to Allen's fastest century

Blinder innings from finn allen 🔥🔥🔥🔥simply outlplayed sa

— its_Vino (@Vino_Ooty) March 4, 2026

When pressure was at its peak, Finn Allen rose above it — a match-winning masterclass! 👏🏏

— Kamal Singh (@kamal05081995) March 4, 2026

🚨Finn Allen just smashed 100 off 33 balls 🤯

©Fastest century in T20 World Cup history.

©Fastest against a full-member team.

©Joint third-fastest hundred in all T20Is.

©Joint fastest century by a player from a full-member team.#NZvsSA

pic.twitter.com/Bd8j4zuGL2

— ROneEight (@_R_OneEight) March 4, 2026

FINN ALLEN JUST HAS SCORED FASTEST HUNDRED IN T20 WORLD CUP HISTORY!!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/mgTAGcf9BN

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 4, 2026

You guys found another Salt 🔥
Congratulations atleast retain him from now on

— ÀŔÜÑ (@ArunKumarJV2000) March 4, 2026

Finn Allen👏, what a knock

— Craig (@CraigAnder87311) March 4, 2026

Unbelievable batting by Finn Allen scoring a hundred off just 33 balls and congratulations to the Kiwis for reaching the T 20 world cup final. Glad one of the picks I made for the Semi final has made it to the final. India is my other pick and let's see how they perform tomorrow.

— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) March 4, 2026

मेरिट के आगे दुनिया नतमस्तक है,
आरक्षण वाली टीम मेरिट को नहीं झेल पाएगी

Kudos to Finn Allen 💪 pic.twitter.com/WxHvEutibR

— Vishal Pandey (@Vishal_aawaj) March 4, 2026

Also Read: WATCH: Quinton De Kock-Dewald Brevis confusion hands Tim Seifert a second chance