Kolkata: Finn Allen played one of the greatest T20 World Cup knocks ever and New Zealand were fantastic with their all-round game as they crushed South Africa by nine wickets and stormed into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final, at the fabled Eden Gardens, here on Wednesday.
After their bowlers restricted South Africa to 169/8 in 20 overs with pacers and spinners combining to take the eight wickets, it was the Finn Allen Show that blew away South Africa in a jiffy as he blasted the fastest T20I hundred between two full members nations, in 33 balls, and no better time to achieve the feat.
The duo of Tim Seifert and Allen powered NZ to 84/0 in six overs of powerplay to effectively kill the match and thereafter it was just the formalities that remained and Seifert’s departure for 58 ensured Rachin Ravindra joined Allen, who struck his third T20I century in just 33 balls, to complete the demolition job and finish at 173/1 in 12.5 overs.
When they started their chase, New Zealand were making mincemeat out of the South African bowling attack as they raced to 84/0 at the end of the powerplay overs.
Tim Seifert smashed his fifty in just 28 balls with six fours and two sixes while Finn Allen was on 45 off 17 balls with five fours and three sixes.
The Black Caps’ hundred came in 8.1 overs as they reached 103/0. Allen’s half-century came off just 18 balls as New Zealand were well on their way to Ahmedabad.
When Kagiso Rabada bowled Seifert for 58, the South Africans heaved a sigh of relief but it seemed a bit too late unless they could effect a dramatic collapse and it never happened.
Earlier, Marco Jansen turned saviour for South Africa with a crucial half-century that helped the Proteas set New Zealand a target of 170.
New Zealand had SA on the mat at 77/5 in 10.2 overs but Jansen and Tristan Stubbs’ 73-run sixth-wicket partnership was the game changer for them as it helped the 2024 WC finalists post 169/8 in 20 overs.
Jansen’s 55 off 30 balls with two fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 183.33 made all the difference in propelling his team to a competitive total.
South Africa were off to a flier with Quinton De Kock smashing a six behind square off Matt Henry to get the proceedings underway in the first over in style.
He didn’t spare Cole McConchie either who came on in the second over with a boundary over mid-on. Just when South Africa appeared to assert themselves McConchie struck removing De Kock, who was caught at mid-on on a shot that he really didn’t have control over.
Ryan Rickelton was a goner at shirt third for a golden duck off McConchie as the Proteas were left wondering what just hit them at the Eden Gardens. A lot was happening in the second over of the World Cup semifinal.
In no time, Dewald Brevis and skipper Aiden Markram were out in the middle for the 2024 World Cup finalists.
Lockie Ferguson almost bagged the third wicket for New Zealand only for a shaky Rachin Ravindra to drop the catch at mid-wicket.
Despite being rocked by two wickets, there was no let up in intensity from the South Africans as Brevis and Markram went on the offensive.
Brevis was severe on James Neesham cracking two consecutive fours off the last two balls of the fifth over while Markram had hoisted a massive six earlier in the over as SA reached 45/2 in five overs.
After the end of the powerplay, South Africa had reached a healthy 48/2 at a run-rate of eight.
The South African was not a second time lucky in the eighth over when he was given out after Daryl Mitchell had him caught off Ravindra’s bowling when it initially did appear the ball had bounced off the ground. However, third umpire Nitin Menon ruled it out after observing the fingers were underneath the ball.
David Miller didn’t last long holing out to Mitchell at long off in the 10th over as South Africa were reduced to 77/4 at the halfway mark of their innings.
Brevis was the only SA batter holding solid at 34 off 25 balls with three fours and two sixes.
New Zealand’s relentless pressure was paying off as Neesham then sent Brevis packing after getting him out caught at covers by Santner as they slipped to 77/5.
