Allen’s Blazing Century Powers New Zealand Into T20 World Cup Final

By Sadia Khan :

New Zealand national cricket team secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa national cricket team to reach the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a commanding semi-final performance at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Chasing a target of 170, New Zealand completed the run-chase with remarkable ease, losing just one wicket and finishing the match with 43 balls to spare. The victory was powered by a stunning opening partnership between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.

The pair added 117 runs in just nine overs, setting the tone for the chase before Kagiso Rabada dismissed Seifert. The wicketkeeper-batter scored a brisk 58 off 33 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes.

Allen, however, remained unstoppable. The aggressive opener smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 deliveries — his third T20 International century featuring 10 fours and eight sixes. He sealed the victory by hitting Marco Jansen for a boundary in the 13th over.

Allen also shared an unbroken 56-run stand with Rachin Ravindra, who contributed 13 not out from 11 balls.

Earlier, South Africa posted 169/8 in their 20 overs after being sent in to bat. Their innings was stabilised by a sixth-wicket partnership between Jansen and Tristan Stubbs.

The Proteas had a difficult start, losing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the second over with only 12 runs on the board.

Captain Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild the innings with a 43-run partnership, but Markram was dismissed for 18 by Ravindra in the eighth over. Ravindra struck again soon after, removing David Miller for six.

James Neesham then dismissed Brevis, who top-scored at that stage with 34 from 27 balls, leaving South Africa struggling at 77/5.

Jansen and Stubbs then launched a recovery with a 73-run stand for the sixth wicket. Stubbs made 29 before being bowled by Lockie Ferguson in the penultimate over.

Jansen remained unbeaten on 55 off 30 balls, striking five sixes and two fours to push South Africa to a competitive total.

For New Zealand, Cole McConchie, Matt Henry and Ravindra took two wickets each, while Neesham and Ferguson claimed one apiece.

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