Finn Allen smashed the fastest T20 World Cup hundred, from just 33 balls, as New Zealand cruised into the final after ending South Africa’s unbeaten run in the tournament with an astonishing nine-wicket thrashing in Kolkata.
South Africa had won their first seven matches at this year’s competition, including a seven-wicket rout of New Zealand in their first-round meeting on Valentine’s Day as they extended their head-to-head against the Kiwis to 5-0 in T20 World Cups at that point.
But Aiden Markram’s side missed out on successive finals – they finished runners-up to India in the Caribbean in 2024 – after New Zealand romped to a target of 170 in just 12.5 overs off the back of a rip-roaring opening stand of 117 from just 55 balls between Allen (100no off 33) and Tim Seifert (58 off 33).
The carnage included Allen crunching five boundaries in a row off Corbin Bosch in the sixth over as Black Caps cantered to 84-0 in the powerplay and then five more on the trot off Marco Jansen in the 13th, with the match-winning four also taking him to three figures.
Jansen’s 27-ball half-century, which rallied South Africa from 77-5 inside 11 overs, came in vain as New Zealand advance to Sunday’s showpiece at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and ensured their opponents’ wait for a World Cup title goes on.
The Black Caps will face the winners of Thursday’s semi-final between England and India, both of whom have won the T20 World Cup twice before.
New Zealand’s best result to date is runners-up to Australia in the UAE in 2021.
More to follow.
