Get ready for a thrilling ride as we dive into the world of cricket and celebrate a remarkable achievement! Finn Allen's century in the T20 World Cup semi-final was nothing short of extraordinary. But here's where it gets controversial... is it the fastest hundred in the history of the game? Let's explore!
In just 33 balls, Finn Allen smashed his way to a century against South Africa, a record-breaking feat in the men's T20 World Cup. This incredible knock not only broke the previous record held by Chris Gayle but also set a new benchmark for the fastest hundred in any T20 World Cup match, men's or women's.
Allen's achievement is even more remarkable when you consider that it's the fastest hundred for New Zealand in T20Is, surpassing Glenn Phillips' record. And here's the part most people miss: it's also the joint-fastest hundred for a Full Member team, putting Allen in elite company with Sikandar Raza.
But wait, there's more! Allen's innings was a boundary-hitting extravaganza, with 18 boundaries in total. This tied him with Brendon McCullum for the most boundaries in a men's T20 World Cup innings. And get this - those 18 boundaries fetched him a whopping 88 runs, a record-equaling feat alongside Chris Gayle.
Not only that, but Allen's six-hitting prowess saw him set a new record for the most sixes in an edition of the T20 World Cup, with 20 in total. He surpassed Shimron Hetmyer's previous record, showing his power and precision with the bat.
The partnership between Allen and Tim Seifert was also a force to be reckoned with. Their 463 runs together in this World Cup is the most by any pair in men's T20I history, and their run rate and average are among the highest on record.
New Zealand's victory over South Africa was a historic moment, as it was their first win against the Proteas in the men's T20 World Cup. This result also means that Bangladesh is the only team to have played five or more matches in this competition without a win against a single opponent.
The run rate during New Zealand's chase was also impressive, with a second-highest rate of 13.48 in a 150-plus total at the men's T20 World Cup. And their powerplay total of 84 for 0 was their highest ever, and the fifth-highest for any team in this competition.
Marco Jansen's score of 55 for South Africa was also noteworthy, as it was the joint-highest for a batsman at No. 7 or lower in men's T20Is for South Africa. It's a testament to his ability to contribute significantly even from the lower order.
South Africa's defeat, however, was a rare occurrence, as they had an impressive winning streak in the previous editions of the men's T20 World Cup. This loss was their first while batting first in this competition, a surprising turn of events for a team known for their consistency.
So, what do you think? Is Finn Allen's century the fastest in cricket history? Or do you have another contender in mind? Let's discuss and celebrate the beauty of this sport in the comments below!
