Allen Finnishes off South Africa: Opener’s 33-ball ton sends New Zealand into final

Kolkata, 27 June — New Zealand produced a statement of intent that will echo all the way to the final, dismantling South Africa by nine wickets in a lopsided T20 World Cup semifinal at Eden Gardens on Thursday night. The Black Caps, chasing 170, galloped home in 12.5 overs, courtesy of a breathtaking, record-shattering 33-ball hundred from opener Finn Allen.

The carnage began with the ball. After skipper Mitchell Santner elected to field, part-time off-spinner Cole McConchie was summoned in just the second over and delivered a double-wicket maiden, removing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton off successive balls. At 77 for five inside 11 overs, South Africa’s star-studded batting order was in disarray, and Eden Gardens sensed a rout.

Aiden Markram, reprieved on three when Rachin Ravindra shelled a straightforward catch, threatened a revival until Ravindra himself lured the captain into a lofted drive that Daryl Mitchell swallowed inches inside the long-on rope. David Miller followed soon after, holing out to Mitchell at long-off to give Ravindra his second scalp and finish with tidy figures of 2 for 29.

Marco Jansen’s fearless 55 not out off 30 balls, supported by Tristan Stubbs in a 73-run sixth-wicket stand, hauled South Africa to 169 for eight — a total that appeared competitive until Allen and Tim Seifert strode out.

What followed was a masterclass in power-hitting. The New Zealand openers blitzed 117 by the end of the 10th over, leaving South Africa’s attack scrambling for answers. Seifert raced to 58 off 33 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes, before falling with the finishing line in sight. Allen, however, was only accelerating. Reaching his fifty in 19 deliveries, he needed just 14 more to complete a sensational century, depositing a six high over midwicket to bring up the fastest hundred in tournament history. Rachin Ravindra, another future Kolkata Knight Riders teammate, applied the final touches with an unbeaten 13 as New Zealand sealed the win with 43 balls to spare.

The emphatic victory books New Zealand’s place in their second T20 World Cup final and underlines their credentials as serious contenders for the title.

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