Kolkata, March 4, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): New Zealand’s explosive opener Finn Allen smashed the fastest century in T20 World Cup history on Wednesday, breaking a 10-year-old record held by Chris Gayle.
Allen reached his hundred in just 33 balls against South Africa at Eden Gardens. With this knock, he surpassed Gayle’s 47-ball century scored against England during the 2016 T20 World Cup. Gayle also features third on the list with a 50-ball hundred against South Africa in 2007. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum had scored a 51-ball century against Bangladesh in the 2012 edition, while Harry Brook registered a 51-ball hundred against Pakistan in the ongoing tournament.
Allen’s unbeaten 100 came off 33 deliveries and included 10 fours and 8 sixes. His innings guided New Zealand to a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the first semi-final. Chasing the target, New Zealand sealed the match with 43 balls to spare and advanced to the final.
Allen also set a new record for the highest score in a T20 World Cup knockout match. The previous best was an unbeaten 96 by Tillakaratne Dilshan. Former India cricketer Virat Kohli had earlier scored an unbeaten 89 in a knockout game.
A crucial 117-run partnership between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert laid the foundation for the comfortable win, ensuring New Zealand’s place in the T20 World Cup final.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
