Kolkata, Mar 4 (UNI) Finn Allen’s explosive 33-ball century powered New Zealand into the Men’s T20 World Cup final with a nine-wicket win over South Africaat the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
After restricting South Africa to 169/8, Finn Allen remained unconquered on 100 as the Black Caps cantered to 173/1 in 12.5 overs in the one-sided first semi-final, played before over 39,000 spectators.
The Kiwis will take on the winners of Thursday’s second semi-final between India and England in the summit clash on Sunday, March 8.
Allen was a man on a mission as he clobbered ten fours and eight sixes onway to scoring the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cups, and sealing the match for is side with 43 balls to spare.
Having entered the contest unbeaten, South Africa were completely blown away by a strong New Zealand side on the day.
Chasing a tricky target of 170, New Zealand charged out of the blocks. The Black Caps scored 84 without losing a wicket in the first six overs. It is the second-highest powerplay score of the ongoing World Cup, only two behind India’s 86/1 against Namibia.
Allen struck a six and four fours in succession against Corbin Bosch, piling 22 runs in the sixth over.
Even after the fielding restrictions came off, Seifert and Allen continued to press on. Seifert brought up his half-century in 28 balls while Allen slammed a fifty off just 19 balls, the joint-fastest this World Cup.
Kagiso Rabada gave the Proteas the breakthrough as he broke Seifert’s defence. But Seifert had already played his part, scoring 58 of 33, with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
Earlier, a thunderous half-century by Marco Jansen powered South Africa to a commanding 169 for eight.
Walking in with his side under pressure, Jansen transformed the tempo of the innings with a blistering 55 off just 30 balls, striking two boundaries and five towering sixes at a strike rate of 183.33.
After electing to field first, New Zealand landed early blows. The Black Caps brought in off-spinner Cole McConchie to test the South African top order and the gamble paid off immediately as he dismissed Quinton De Kock and Ryan Rickelton, leaving the Proteas struggling at 12/2.
Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis then stitched together a 43-run partnership that set South Africa on the road to recovery. They took Jimmy Neesham for 17 runs in the fifth over as South Africa reached 48/2 in the powerplay.
The partnership ended as Daryl Mitchell took a superb catch to send back Markram. David Miller was dropped by Glenn Phillips before the southpaw ended up handing another skier to Mitchell.
Brevis seemed to have had the measure of the surface, but his innings came to an abrupt end at 34 when he chipped the ball straight to cover. Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen then dragged South Africa back on track with a 73-run partnership off 48 balls.
Jansen used his long levers and easy power to full effect, and brought up his half-century with back-to-back sixes against Lockie Ferguson. He hit five sixes and two fours to finish unbeaten on 55 off 30 balls, giving his team a fighting total to defend.
