Men's T20 World Cup Semi-Final, Kolkata
Finn Allen achieved his third T20 International century, having previously scored centuries against Scotland in 2022 and Pakistan in 2024.
South Africa 169-8 (20 overs): Jansen 55* (30); Ravindra 2-29
New Zealand 173-1 (12.5 overs): Allen 100* (33); Seifert 58 (33)
New Zealand won by nine wickets with 43 balls remaining.
Finn Allen delivered an extraordinary unbeaten century as New Zealand convincingly defeated the 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets, advancing to their second Men's T20 World Cup final.
Chasing a target of 170, after a 27-ball half-century from Marco Jansen helped South Africa recover from 77-5, Allen dominated with an unbeaten 100 runs off 33 balls, including 10 fours and eight sixes. This powerful innings enabled New Zealand to secure victory with 43 balls to spare.
Tim Seifert also contributed a rapid half-century, scoring 58 runs off 33 balls. The New Zealand openers established a strong foundation with a 117-run partnership over 55 balls before Allen accelerated the scoring rate.
Allen scored 42 runs from just 11 deliveries during his 56-run partnership with Rachin Ravindra. He notably struck five consecutive boundaries off Jansen, sealing an emphatic win for New Zealand.
South Africa, who had remained unbeaten in the tournament until this match, including a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in the group stage, struggled with the bat after losing the toss.
They lost Quinton de Kock (10) and Ryan Rickelton (0) in consecutive deliveries during the second over, falling to 12-2. Both Aiden Markram (18 off 20) and David Miller (6) failed to capitalize despite being dropped early on when each was on three runs.
When Dewald Brevis (34 off 27) was caught by Mitchell Santner in the covers in the 11th over, the match appeared to be slipping away from South Africa. However, Marco Jansen found stability with Tristan Stubbs (29 off 24), and then accelerated in the final five overs to push South Africa from 108-5 to 169-8.
Jansen and Stubbs shared a 73-run partnership over 48 balls for the sixth wicket. Jansen finished unbeaten on 55 runs from 30 balls, hitting five sixes.
Despite this late surge, South Africa's total proved insufficient, as New Zealand's openers dominated from the start, scoring 84 runs in the first six overs and never relinquishing control of the match.
