Finn Allen delivered a breathtaking assault at the on Wednesday, blasting the fastest century in T20I history. Chasing 170 to book a spot in the final, the explosive New Zealand opener needed just 33 balls to reach three figures, guiding his team to victory with remarkable ease.
In doing so, Allen eclipsed the long-standing record held by former India captain , whose 35-ball ton against in 2017 had stood for nine years.
Fastest T20I centuries (Full Member Nations)
- 33 balls – Finn Allen vs – 2026
- 35 balls – Rohit Sharma vs Sri Lanka – 2017
- 35 balls – vs – 2017
- 37 balls – vs – 2025
- 37 balls – vs – 2025
Allen’s innings was a relentless exhibition of power from the outset. He launched early sixes off and , while initially dominated the strike. The momentum shifted dramatically in the final over of the powerplay when Allen tore into , smashing 22 runs, including a towering six and four successive boundaries.
New Zealand raced to 84/0 in the powerplay, effectively putting the contest beyond doubt. Allen brought up his half-century in just 19 balls — the joint-fastest fifty of the 2026 tournament — and showed no signs of slowing after Seifert’s dismissal. Boundaries flowed at will, with no over spared.
When Jansen returned to the attack, Allen shifted gears once more, hammering 24 runs off five balls to surge to his century in just 33 deliveries. The chase was wrapped up in only 12.5 overs, sealing a commanding win and a place in the final.