New Delhi, 05 March (H.S.): New Zealand's explosive batsman Finn Allen etched his name into cricketing immortality by smashing an unbeaten century off a mere 33 balls against South Africa in the T20 World Cup semifinal, claiming the crown for the fastest hundred in the tournament's history.
Allen powered his side to a commanding chase of 170 runs, wrapping up the target in just 12.5 overs with a blistering knock adorned by 10 fours and eight sixes. His ferocious innings not only demolished the Proteas' bowling attack but also propelled New Zealand into the final with authority.
The record had long resided with West Indies icon Chris Gayle, who crafted his ton off 47 balls against England in 2016. Allen's audacious feat now eclipses that mark decisively.This 33-ball masterpiece ranks as the joint-third quickest century in T20 international cricket annals, equalling the exploits of Namibia's Zane Nicoll Lofty-Eaton and Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza. Estonia's Sahil Chauhan holds the outright T20I record with a stunning 27-ball effort.
In the pantheon of T20 World Cup's swiftest centuries, Allen reigns supreme: followed by Gayle's 47-ball blitz in 2016, another Gayle gem off 50 balls against South Africa in 2007, Brendon McCullum's 51-ball charge versus Bangladesh in 2012, and Rilee Rossouw's 52-ball assault on Bangladesh in 2022.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
