The NZ vs SA semi-final at the iconic Eden Gardens transformed into a historic event as Finn Allen produced one of the best performances in T20 World Cup history. His unbeaten 100* not only helped NZ qualify for the final but also broke numerous records.
Fastest T20 World Cup Hundred: Allen Joins Elite List
Finn Allen’s century was scored in just 33 balls, and this means:
Joint third-fastest hundred in Men’s T20Is
Joint-fastest hundred by a batter from a full-member nation
Fastest century in T20 World Cup history
Finn Allen’s century also broke the previous record of the T20 World Cup, which was held by Chris Gayle. Gayle had scored a 47-ball century against England at the Wankhede Stadium in 2016. For New Zealand, Finn Allen broke the previous record held by Glenn Phillips, who had scored a 46-ball century in 2020.
Most Hundreds for New Zealand in T20Is
This knock also means Allen now has three T20I centuries, which equals Colin Munro for the most T20I centuries by a New Zealander.
He is also only the third Kiwi batsman to score a T20 World Cup century, after:
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Brendon McCullum (123 vs Bangladesh, 2012)
Glenn Phillips (104 vs Sri Lanka, 2022)
Boundary Blitz: Allen’s Power-Hitting Masterclass
Statistics from the NZ vs. SA match show the sheer dominance of Allen:
18 boundaries, including 10 fours and 8 sixes – joint-most in a T20 World Cup innings
8 sixes – most by a New Zealander in a T20 World Cup innings
8 sixes – most sixes by any player in a T20 World Cup knockout match
88 runs off boundaries – joint-most in T20 World Cup history (tied with Gayle’s 2016 performance)
But perhaps most remarkable was the fact that Allen’s 100* was off just 4 dot balls. Out of 76 innings with 30+ balls, only Virat Kohli (72 off 44 in 2014 T20 World Cup semi-final) had less dot balls than Allen’s 4.
Fastest Fifty for New Zealand in T20 World Cup
Allen scored his half-century in just 19 balls, the quickest in New Zealand’s T20 World Cup history, surpassing Glenn Phillips, who had scored his 50 in 22 balls in the same tournament.
Records of Six-Hitting in T20 World Cup 2026
Allen’s batting dominance was evident throughout the tournament:
- Allen scored 20 sixes in T20 World Cup 2026, the highest in the tournament’s history.
- He surpassed Shimron Hetmyer, who had hit 19 sixes.
- He was ahead of Sahibzada Farhan, who had 18 sixes.
In total, Allen had 26 sixes in T20 World Cups, the highest by a New Zealander, surpassing:
- Martin Guptill
- Glenn Phillips
- Ross Taylor
NZ vs SA Stats: Record-Breaking Opening Partnership
The Allen-Tim Seifert partnership has been unbeatable in T20 WC 2026.
Tournament Aggregate Partnership Runs:
- 463 runs at 10.93 run-rate highest in a single T20 WC edition
They have broken records held by:
- Ibrahim Zadran & Rahmanullah Gurbaz (446 runs in 2024)
- Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan (411 runs in 2021)
- Jos Buttler & Alex Hales (368 runs in 2022)
Their partnership of 117 runs in the NZ vs SA semi-final:
Second-highest partnership in a T20 World Cup knockout
After Buttler-Hales’ 170* in 2022
Fastest 150+ Chase in T20 World Cup History
New Zealand chased 170 with 43 balls remaining, setting a new T20 World Cup record for a successful 150+ chase.
Previous best: Scotland (41 balls remaining vs Oman, 2024).
Three higher-margin chases have been recorded overall in Men’s T20Is.
A Match of Two Halves for Marco Jansen
While Allen was dominating the stats in the NZ vs SA match, Marco Jansen had a night of extremes.
Batting Heroics by Marco Jansen
55* off 30 balls
Rescued South Africa from 77/5
Second instance of a batsman who is No. 7 or lower to make 50+ in a T20 WC knockout
(After Michael Hussey in 2010)
His 77-run stand with Tristan Stubbs was:
- Highest sixth-wicket or lower partnership in T20Is for South Africa
- Second-highest in a T20 WC knockout
Jansen’s Expensive Bowling Spell
However, the night became harsh with the ball:
0/53 in 2.5 overs
Most expensive spell for South Africa in T20 World Cup history
Joint most expensive T20 WC spell (3 overs or fewer)
He broke the previous South African record set by Shaun Pollock in 2007 (1/52).
Final Verdict: NZ vs SA Stats Tell the Story
As can be seen from the NZ vs SA stats, there is one very obvious truth – Finn Allen made this semi-final his own.
From:
- Fastest T20 World Cup century
- Most sixes in a single World Cup
- Record-breaking partnership
- Fastest 150+ chase
This was not just a victory, but a domination in statistics. As New Zealand head into the T20 World Cup 2026 final, Finn Allen’s innings at Eden Gardens will be talked about as one of the best in the history of the tournament.
ALSO READ: NZ vs SA: Finn Allen’s 33-Ball Century Powers New Zealand Into T20 World Cup 2026 Final
