Finn Allen Shatters Records with 33-Ball Century; Tendulkar Hails ‘Breathtaking’ Blitz

KOLKATA – New Zealand opener Finn Allen rewrote cricket history at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, powering the Black Caps into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final with a ferocious unbeaten century against South Africa. Allen’s 33-ball masterclass secured a dominant victory, chasing down a target of 170 in just 12.5 overs.

Tendulkar’s Reaction Amid Family Celebrations

While the cricketing world focused on Kolkata, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar monitored the action from Mumbai, where wedding festivities for his son, Arjun Tendulkar, and Saaniya Chandhok were underway. The chaotic brilliance of Allen’s innings drew high praise from the former India captain.

“Semi-finals usually keep you on the edge of your seat. Today, Finn Allen finished it before we could settle in! What a game!” Tendulkar posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Statistical Breakdown: The Fastest World Cup Century

Allen’s innings established a new benchmark for batting aggression in global tournaments. By reaching triple figures in just 33 deliveries, he surpassed previous records held by Chris Gayle and Glenn Maxwell across both T20 and ODI formats.

Fastest Centuries in World Cup History

Match Impact and Key Stats

The South African attack had no answer for Allen’s assault. The opener struck 10 fours and eight sixes, accumulating 88 runs solely in boundaries. This boundary blitz equals the record set by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh in 2012 for the highest boundary count in a T20 World Cup innings.

• Final Score: Finn Allen 100* (33 balls)
• Strike Rate: 303.03
• Team Chase: New Zealand reached 170/X in 12.5 overs (Run Rate: 13.25)

This victory propels New Zealand into the tournament final, while the Proteas face another elimination in the knockout stages of an ICC event.