Kolkata: New Zealand stormed into the final of the 2026 T20 World Cup with a commanding victory over South Africa at Eden Gardens, riding on a sensational unbeaten century from Finn Allen that dismantled the Proteas in a one-sided semifinal.
Chasing a target of 170, New Zealand made a blistering start as Finn Allen and Tim Seifert tore into the South African attack, racing to 84 runs inside the Powerplay. Allen dominated proceedings with an extraordinary display of power hitting, smashing 10 fours and eight sixes in a breathtaking 33-ball century — the fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history. His unbeaten 100 guided New Zealand to victory with 7.1 overs to spare, sealing a place in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Earlier, New Zealand’s bowlers had set up the contest after captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and opted to field on a dry surface. Cole McConchie made an immediate impact by dismissing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton off successive deliveries to leave South Africa struggling at 12/2. Although Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild the innings, New Zealand’s bowlers struck regularly to keep the pressure on.
Rachin Ravindra removed Markram before also dismissing David Miller in the same over, leaving South Africa in deep trouble. When Brevis departed soon after, the Proteas were reduced to 77/5 and facing a major collapse.
Marco Jansen and Tristan Stubbs steadied the innings with a patient partnership before accelerating towards the end. The pair added valuable runs in the final overs, with Jansen reaching a quick half-century off 27 balls. However, Lockie Ferguson broke the partnership by bowling Stubbs with a well-disguised leg cutter, halting South Africa’s late charge.
Despite Jansen’s efforts, South Africa could only manage 169, a total that proved insufficient against New Zealand’s explosive batting.
Allen and Seifert then produced a devastating opening stand of 117 runs to put the result beyond doubt. Seifert scored a brisk half-century before Kagiso Rabada finally broke the partnership, but by then the contest had already slipped away from South Africa.
Allen continued his assault, racing from fifty to his century in just 14 deliveries and finishing the match with the shot that brought up the landmark. The emphatic win sends New Zealand into the final as they look to capture the T20 World Cup title that narrowly eluded them in 2021.
Brief scores: South Africa 169/8 in 20 overs (Marco Jansen 50, Tristan Stubbs 40; Rachin Ravindra 2 wickets) lost to New Zealand 170/1 in 12.5 overs (Finn Allen 100*, Tim Seifert 55) by 9 wickets.
