A cricket storm swept through Kolkata, leaving South Africa in disarray. New Zealand's victory in the men's T20 World Cup semi-final was nothing short of dominant, but the real story is about a record-breaker.
Finn Allen's Lightning Hundred:
In a mere 33 balls, Finn Allen etched his name in the record books, blasting the fastest hundred in the tournament's history. He left Chris Gayle's 2016 record in the dust, achieving the feat in 14 fewer balls. But here's where it gets even more impressive...
Allen's century is not just a T20 World Cup record; it's the fastest in all T20 World Cup matches, men or women. He surpassed Deandra Dottin's 38-ball hundred from 2010, making it a truly historic moment.
A Record-Breaking Trend:
This isn't Allen's first rodeo with records. His hundred is the fastest for New Zealand in T20Is, beating Glenn Phillips' 46-ball feat. It's also the joint-fastest for a Full Member team in T20Is, shared with Sikandar Raza's knock.
A Century of Boundaries:
Allen's 33-ball century is the fastest against a Full Member team, leaving David Miller and Rohit Sharma's 35-ball centuries in 2017 behind. His strike rate is extraordinary, with one of only four T20I hundreds over 300.
A Knockout King:
Allen is the first to score a hundred in a men's T20 World Cup knockout match, surpassing Tillakaratne Dilshan's 96 in 2009. His fifty in 19 balls is also the fastest in a men's T20 World Cup knockout, and for New Zealand in the tournament.
Boundary Brilliance:
With 18 boundaries, Allen matched Brendon McCullum's record for the most in a men's T20 World Cup innings. These boundaries contributed to 88 runs, equaling Chris Gayle's boundary runs in his 2007 innings.
Sixes Galore:
Allen has hit 20 sixes in this World Cup, including eight in the semi-final. He now holds the record for the most sixes in a single T20 World Cup edition, overtaking Shimron Hetmyer's 19.
A Partnership to Remember:
Allen and Tim Seifert's partnership has been extraordinary, amassing 463 runs in this World Cup, the most by any pair in a men's T20I series or tournament. Their partnership run rate and average are among the highest in the game.
Breaking the South African Curse:
New Zealand finally tasted victory against South Africa in the men's T20 World Cup, having lost all previous encounters. This leaves Bangladesh as the only team without a win after five or more matches in this competition.
A Perfect Knockout Record:
Interestingly, New Zealand has a flawless record against South Africa in knockout matches across all men's ICC events, winning all four encounters.
Lightning Run Chase:
Chasing South Africa's total, New Zealand's run rate of 13.48 is the second-highest in a 150-plus total at the men's T20 World Cup. Their powerplay total of 84 for 0 is the highest in a knockout game in this tournament's history.
South Africa's Bright Spots:
Despite the loss, South Africa had some standout performances. Marco Jansen's 55 is the joint-highest for South Africa while batting at No. 7 or lower in men's T20Is. His partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the sixth wicket is also a record for the team.
A Winning Streak Snapped:
South Africa's defeat marked their first loss in this competition while batting first since 2021. Their winning streak, which included a Super Over victory, came to an end in the semi-final.
And this is the part most people miss: Allen's performance raises questions about the balance between bat and ball in modern T20 cricket. Is the game becoming too batter-friendly? Share your thoughts in the comments!
