Cricket Live: Allen century powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final
cricket live — Finn Allen’s blistering 100 not out off 33 balls carried New Zealand to a nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first semi-final in Kolkata on March 4, 2026 (ET), booking a place in Sunday’s final. New Zealand chased 170 in 12. 5 overs, finishing 173 for 1 with Tim Seifert contributing 58. The result came after South Africa posted 169 for 8 in their 20 overs.
Cricket Live: Match highlights and key figures
The match scoreline was decisive: South Africa 169-8 (20 overs) — Marco Jansen 55*; New Zealand 173-1 (12. 5 overs) — Finn Allen 100*; Tim Seifert 58. New Zealand won by nine wickets with 43 balls remaining. Finn Allen produced the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, reaching 100 in 33 balls and eclipsing the previous T20 World Cup mark. Allen’s innings included a flurry of boundaries and sixes that turned the contest into a one-sided chase, while Tim Seifert’s brisk fifty laid the platform in the powerplay.
On the bowling and fielding side, Rachin Ravindra returned figures of 2-29 for New Zealand. For South Africa, Marco Jansen’s late surge — an unbeaten 55 off 30 balls including five sixes — helped push his team to a defendable total after they had slid to 77-5 earlier in the innings. Dewald Brevis contributed 34 off 27 before offering a key catch to Mitchell Santner in the covers in the 11th over.
Immediate reaction from the pitch
“I am sure my parents were up watching the whole game. Hopefully they are proud, ” Finn Allen, opening batsman for New Zealand, said after the innings. “It was an extremely impressive start from our bowlers. They set the game up for sure. I just looked to play a support role to Tim and if it was in my area I tried to hit it for four or six. ” Allen also noted the partnership with Tim Seifert that put New Zealand in control early.
New Zealand’s opening stand put on 117 runs from 55 balls for the first wicket, a dominating powerplay that South Africa could not recover from. South Africa had earlier lost Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton cheaply, then saw Aiden Markram and David Miller fail to convert starts after being dropped. A recovery phase led by Jansen and Tristan Stubbs produced a late surge, but was insufficient to halt New Zealand’s chase.
Quick context and what happens next
South Africa entered the semi-final unbeaten at this tournament and had beaten New Zealand in the group phase; that run ended here. The result moves New Zealand into the tournament final on Sunday, with the team confirming its place in the title match on March 4, 2026 (ET).
As cricket live coverage continues, attention will shift to New Zealand’s preparations for the final and to analysis of how the openers’ explosive performance will shape selection and strategy. Expect official team announcements and match previews in the coming days leading up to Sunday’s final, where New Zealand will contest the championship following this semi-final victory captured in cricket live reports.
