Finn Allen smashed the fastest 100 in a T20 World Cup from just 33 balls as New Zealand ended South Africa’s unbeaten run in the tournament and booked their place in the final with a stunning nine-wicket victory in Kolkata.
South Africa had won their first seven matches in the tournament, defeating New Zealand by seven wickets in the first round on Valentine’s Day, extending their lead against the Kiwis in head-to-head T20 World Cup matches to 5-0.
However, Aiden Markram’s side failed to reach back-to-back finals, finishing runners-up to India in the Caribbean in 2024. Behind a thunderous opening stand of 117 off 55 balls between Allen (100 for 33) and Tim Seifert (58 for 33) at Eden Gardens, New Zealand closed to the target of 170 in just 12.5 overs.
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Allen hits five boundaries for the second time in a row as New Zealand beat South Africa by nine wickets
The carnage included Allen getting five consecutive boundaries off Corbin Bosch in the sixth over, five more on the trot from Marco Jansen in the 13th, and a winning four to reach triple figures as the Black Caps galloped to 84-0 on the powerplay.
West Indies legend Chris Gayle held the record for fastest men’s T20 World Cup century with 47 balls against England 10 years ago, but that record was erased by Allen, who hit 10 quads and eight sixes.
Allen breaks Chris Gayle’s record for fastest men’s T20 World Cup century
Jansen’s 27-ball half-century, which brought South Africa back from 77-5 in the 11th over, went in vain as New Zealand advanced to Sunday’s showpiece at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, sealing their opponents’ hopes of a maiden World Cup title.
The Black Caps will face the winner of England vs India in Thursday’s Mumbai semi-final, both of whom have won the last two T20 World Cups.
New Zealand’s previous best result was a runners-up finish against Australia in the UAE in 2021, but they now have a chance to surpass that after defeating South Africa four times in a row in the finals of an ICC tournament, following the 2011 50-over World Cup quarter-finals, the 2015 semi-finals and last year’s Champions Trophy semi-finals.
New Zealand defeat South Africa in Kolkata
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New Zealand spinner Cole McConchie dismissed Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the second over of Wednesday’s semi-final at Eden Gardens.
The Kiwis won the toss against South Africa and got off to a dream start in the second over when spinner Cole McConchie (2-9) hit successive balls to remove Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0 pouch in short third) who were caught at mid-on.
Markram (18) and David Miller (6) both failed to punish their opponents properly after dropping three on, holed out deep to Rachin Ravindra (2-29), while Dewald Brevis sliced into cover after smoking 34 sixes off 27 deliveries.
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South African captain Aiden Markram was dropped by a Blackcaps player in three and lost 18 seconds to Rachin Ravindra.
Jansen and Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24) revived the innings with a six-wicket stand of 73 off 48 balls, with the former scoring a club-high five runs for the second time in his 50th T20 international.Matt Henry’s twin strikes from Bosh (two runs) and Keyso Rabada (nil) in the final over ensured a clean sheet.
South Africa needed to take early wickets to give New Zealand some anxiety, but their chances disappeared in the second over when de Kock lunged to fine leg from the wicketkeeper’s position and failed to catch Seifert’s top edge after instructing fielder Brevis to stay out of the way.
Brevis was definitely in a good position to win the ball.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen scored a 27-ball fifty but it was in vain.
Seifert, who was number 11 at the time de Kock failed to catch, nailed Jansen with back-to-back goals in his 18-run third over, and the game already looked like it was over when Allen ran wild in Bosh’s 22-run sixth over.
It was decided in just under seven overs, preserving the possibility of another World Cup final between New Zealand and England, seven years after the 50-over feat at Lord’s.
Allen Hundred “Special to Watch”
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner:
“It was special to watch (Allen and Seifert). I was very happy to get to 170 going into the inning, but you never know.
“They went out there and played their game and went for it, which was great to watch, and Finn continued – 33 balls for a ton isn’t that bad!”
South Africa captain Aiden Markram:
“To be fair, it was a big effort to get up to 170. I felt like I was snubbed at the halfway mark. But somebody plays an innings like that (Allen).”
“It was his knock and Tim Seifert’s knock that ended the game early. Unfortunately, tonight was a bad night for us.”
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Player of the Match Allen praised opening partner Tim Seifert
Player of the Match, New Zealand’s Finn Allen:
“We wanted to put them on the back foot early. When Tim (Seifert) is like that, it makes it easier for me…When the ball comes in my area, I can just watch it and hit it, and we were able to make an absolute jump.”
“It’s easy to keep fighting in the semi-finals – it was a big game for us – and we enjoyed the game together.
“If we take a positive look at this game and celebrate those small moments of success, we can win the final on Sunday. I’m looking forward to that.”
Watch the T20 World Cup Second Match semi-final between England and India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 1pm on Thursday (1.30pm first pitch).
2026 Men’s T20 World Cup Final Tournament
Always UK and Ireland. All matches will be streamed live on Sky Sports
Semi-final
Wednesday, March 4th
Thursday, March 5th
England vs India (Mumbai, 1.30pm)
final
Sunday, March 8th
New Zealand vs TBC (Ahmedabad, 1.30pm)
