Finn Allen Sets T20 World Cup Record with Lightning-Fast Century
Finn Allen's Historic Performance
In a thrilling T20 World Cup semifinal held in Kolkata, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar praised New Zealand's Finn Allen for his astonishing century, achieved in just 33 balls. Allen's remarkable feat allowed New Zealand to secure a place in the final, as they effortlessly chased down a target of 170 runs.
Taking to social media, Sachin expressed his excitement, stating, "Semi-finals typically keep you on the edge of your seat. Today, Finn Allen finished it before we could settle in! What a game!" Allen's innings included 10 fours and 8 sixes, showcasing his explosive batting style.
During the match, Kiwi openers Tim Seifert and Allen made quick work of the chase, completing it in just 12.5 overs. Allen's century not only surpassed Chris Gayle's previous record for the fastest century in T20 World Cup history but also eclipsed Glenn Maxwell's record for the fastest century in ODI World Cups.
This achievement marks the fastest century against a Test-playing nation in T20Is and ranks as the joint-third fastest in all T20 formats. The record for the fastest T20I century remains with Sahil Chauhan, who scored a 27-ball century against Cyprus in 2024.
Allen's performance also broke the record for New Zealand's fastest T20I century, previously held by Glenn Phillips, who scored a 46-ball century against the West Indies in 2020. Additionally, Allen's score surpassed the highest in T20 World Cup knockout matches, previously held by Sri Lankan great Tilakaratne Dilshan.
With this century, Allen joins the ranks of Brendon McCullum and Glenn Phillips as the only New Zealand players to score a century in T20 World Cup history. His innings featured the highest boundary count in a T20 World Cup match, tying with McCullum's record of 11 boundaries in 2012.
Allen's explosive innings had a strike rate of 303.03 and included only four dot balls, a remarkable statistic in the context of T20 World Cup semifinals and finals.