A devastating batting display has seen New Zealand storm into the final of the T20 World Cup, dismantling South Africa by nine wickets in a one-sided semi-final clash.
Chasing a target of 170, the Black Caps’ openers launched an immediate and brutal assault, effectively ending the contest within the first half of the innings. The foundation was laid by Tim Seifert, whose aggressive 58 set a frenetic tempo. However, it was Finn Allen who authored a truly historic performance, reaching a century from a mere 33 deliveries—the fastest hundred ever recorded in the tournament’s history.
Allen’s innings was a masterclass in power-hitting, featuring a barrage of boundaries that left the South African bowling attack, previously the most economical in the competition, shell-shocked. The chase was completed with a staggering 43 balls to spare, underlining the sheer dominance of the performance.
Earlier, after being put into bat, South Africa struggled to build momentum on a surface that appeared trickier than anticipated. Despite a fighting, unbeaten 55 from Marco Jansen, the Proteas lost wickets at regular intervals and were restricted to a total of 169 for 8, which always looked below par.
The comprehensive nature of the defeat marks another painful chapter in South Africa’s history of knockout-stage disappointments in global tournaments. For New Zealand, the victory books a place in their fourth World Cup final across formats, where they will await the winner of the second semi-final between India and England.
