Kolkata, March 4, 2026 —New Zealand vs South Africa In a performance that will be etched in T20 World Cup folklore, Finn Allen unleashed a brutal assault on the South African bowling attack to propel New Zealand into the 2026 World Cup Final. Chasing 170 for victory at a packed Eden Gardens, New Zealand didn’t just win; they humiliated the previously unbeaten Proteas, reaching the target in just 12.5 overs.
Finn Allen’s 100 off 33 balls* is now the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, a record-breaking feat that left the cricket world in awe and the South African dream in tatters.
New Zealand vs South Africa Match Overview: From Competitive to One-Sided
South Africa entered the semi-final as favorites after their flawless Super 8 run. However, they struggled to find rhythm on a Kolkata surface that offered turn for the spinners. Marco Jansen (55)* played a late-inning blinder to rescue the Proteas from a mid-inning collapse, pushing the total to 169/8.
What followed was a “black storm.” Finn Allen and Tim Seifert (58) treated the South African pace attack like club bowlers. The powerplay yielded a staggering 92 runs, and from there, the result was a mere formality. New Zealand secures their spot in the Ahmedabad final, waiting for the winner of India vs. England.
New Zealand vs South Africa Match Scorecard: Detailed Statistics
1st Innings: South Africa Batting
South Africa’s top order crumbled under the pressure of the knockout stage, with only Marco Jansen and Dewald Brevis showing significant resistance.
South Africa Batting Table
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Aiden Markram (c) | c Mitchell b Ravindra | 18 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 90.00 |
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | c Ferguson b McConchie | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 125.00 |
| Ryan Rickelton | c Allen b McConchie | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dewald Brevis | c Santner b Neesham | 34 | 27 | 3 | 2 | 125.93 |
| David Miller | c Mitchell b Ravindra | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Tristan Stubbs | b Ferguson | 29 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 120.83 |
| Marco Jansen | not out | 55 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 183.33 |
| Corbin Bosch | b Henry | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Kagiso Rabada | c Neesham b Henry | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Keshav Maharaj | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | (lb 1, w 12, nb 1) | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (20 Overs) | 169/8 | RR: 8.45 |
New Zealand Bowling Table
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 4.0 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6.20 |
| Cole McConchie | 1.0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Matt Henry | 4.0 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 8.50 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4.0 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.25 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 4.0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7.25 |
| James Neesham | 3.0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14.00 |
2nd Innings: New Zealand Batting (The Carnage)
New Zealand chased down the target with 43 balls to spare.
New Zealand Batting Table
| Batter | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Tim Seifert (wk) | b Rabada | 58 | 33 | 7 | 2 | 175.76 |
| Finn Allen | not out | 100 | 33 | 10 | 8 | 303.03 |
| Rachin Ravindra | not out | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Extras | (lb 2) | 2 | – | – | – | – |
| TOTAL | (12.5 Overs) | 173/1 | RR: 13.48 |
South Africa Bowling Table
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | NB | WD | ECO |
| Marco Jansen | 2.5 | 0 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18.70 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3.0 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.33 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 2.0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.00 |
| Corbin Bosch | 2.0 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.50 |
| Keshav Maharaj | 3.0 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11.00 |
Post-Match Analysis: Key Takeaways
1. Finn Allen: The Human Highlight Reel
To score a century in a World Cup semi-final is great; to do it in 33 balls with a strike rate of 303.03 is practically unheard of. Allen targeted the short straight boundaries of Eden Gardens, specifically dismantling Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch. His 10 sixes were a masterclass in power hitting.
2. Marco Jansen’s All-Round Effort in Vain
Jansen was the only South African who could hold his head high. His 55 off 30 balls* gave the bowlers something to defend, but he then became the primary victim of Allen’s blade, conceding 53 runs in less than 3 overs. It was a day where his pace worked against him on a true Eden pitch.
3. The McConchie Gambit
Mitchell Santner’s decision to give Cole McConchie an early over proved to be a stroke of genius. He took two wickets in his only over, removing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, effectively breaking the back of the South African top order before the powerplay even ended.
4. Proteas’ “Choke” or Just Outplayed?
While critics will point to South Africa’s history in knockouts, this wasn’t a tactical collapse as much as it was being caught in a hurricane. No amount of planning could have stopped Finn Allen in this mood.
Player of the Match: Finn Allen
For his historic 100 (33)*, which shattered records and sent New Zealand to their second consecutive T20 World Cup final.
Looking Ahead: The Final
New Zealand now travels to Ahmedabad. They will face the winner of the India vs. England semi-final. If Allen can carry this form into the final, the Black Caps might finally lift the trophy that has eluded them for so long.