New Zealand stormed into the final of the Men’s T20 World Cup after a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the semi-final played in Kolkata. The Black Caps chased down a target of 170 with remarkable ease, finishing the match with 43 balls still remaining.
The star of the night was Finn Allen, who produced one of the greatest innings in T20 World Cup history. The explosive opener smashed an unbeaten 100 from just 33 balls, setting a new record for the fastest century ever scored in the tournament. His stunning knock included 10 boundaries and eight massive sixes, leaving South Africa’s bowlers with no answers.
New Zealand’s chase began confidently as Tim Seifert provided strong support at the other end. He scored a quick 58 off 33 deliveries, and together the opening pair added 117 runs in only 55 balls. Their aggressive approach completely shifted the momentum of the match early in the innings.
Allen accelerated further after Seifert’s dismissal. During a powerful partnership with Rachin Ravindra, he dominated the scoring and blasted 42 runs from just 11 deliveries. One of the highlights came when he struck Marco Jansen for five consecutive boundaries, sealing an emphatic victory for his side.
Earlier, South Africa struggled after losing the toss and found themselves in deep trouble at 77 for five. Marco Jansen’s impressive 27-ball half-century helped them recover and post a competitive total of 169. However, the total proved far from enough against New Zealand’s fearless batting display.
Allen’s century broke the previous T20 World Cup record held by Chris Gayle, who scored a hundred off 47 balls in 2016. The New Zealand batter bettered that mark by 14 deliveries, making it one of the fastest centuries ever in men’s T20 internationals.
After the match, Allen credited his teammates and especially the bowlers for setting up the win. He said he focused on supporting Seifert early and attacked whenever the ball came into his hitting zone. He also expressed hope that his family watching at home felt proud of his performance.
South Africa entered the semi-final unbeaten in the tournament and had earlier defeated New Zealand in the group stage. However, their campaign ended in disappointment as the Black Caps delivered a near-perfect performance.
With confidence high and momentum on their side, New Zealand now look ahead to Sunday’s final, hoping to lift the T20 World Cup trophy after a memorable semi-final triumph.