New Zealand produced one of the most dominant T20 World Cup performances to date, completely overwhelming a strong South African side in the opening semifinal at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. In pursuit of 170, the Black Caps raced past the target with huge batting firepower, finishing at 173/1 in just 12.5 overs — a crushing 9-wicket victory with 43 balls to spare.
The story of the match was New Zealand opener Finn Allen, who smashed a breathtaking 100 off just 33 balls*, marking the fastest century in T20 World Cup history. His phenomenal innings featured 10 fours and 8 towering sixes, and he shared a magnificent 117-run opening partnership with Tim Seifert (58), effectively deciding the contest inside the powerplay.
South Africa had earlier posted a modest total of 169/8 in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to a resilient 55 from Marco Jansen*. However, regular early wickets and a lack of momentum prevented them from posting a competitive score.
As New Zealand chased, they never looked in trouble — their openers set a breakneck pace right from the start. Allen’s record ton electrified the crowd and dismantled the Proteas bowling attack, leaving South Africa to rue missed opportunities.
With this emphatic win, New Zealand join the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 where they will face the winner of the second semifinal between India and England.
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