Finn Allen Archives

Finn Allen smashes multiple records with T20 World Cup semi-final blitz

KOLKATA: New Zealand opener Finn Allen smashed multiple records during his 33-ball century in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa on Wednesday.

Playing the first semi-final at Eden Gardens, Allen delivered a breathtaking unbeaten 100 off just 33 deliveries as New Zealand chased down the 170-run target with ease to seal a crushing nine-wicket win.

The right-hander’s blistering knock featured 10 fours and eight towering sixes and earned him the Player of the Match award.

The century also rewrote the record books, becoming the fastest hundred ever scored in the history of men’s T20 World Cups.

Allen surpassed the long-standing mark held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who had reached the milestone in 47 balls against England during the 2016 edition.

Gayle still occupies two spots on the list of the fastest T20 World Cup centuries, including his 50-ball hundred against South Africa in the inaugural 2007 tournament.

England captain Harry Brook also features among the fastest after scoring a 50-ball century against Pakistan earlier in the Super Eight stage of the ongoing event.

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum completes the top five with his 51-ball century against Bangladesh during the 2014 edition.

Fastest centuries in men’s T20 World Cups

Finn Allen (New Zealand) – 33 balls against South Africa in 2026

Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 47 balls against England in 2016

Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 50 balls against South Africa in 2007

Harry Brook (England) – 50 balls against Pakistan in 2026

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 51 balls against Bangladesh in 2012

Allen’s blistering knock also ranks among the quickest centuries in overall T20 Internationals.

His 33-ball ton is now joint third-fastest in the format, drawing level with Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza and Namibia batter Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton.

The record for the fastest century in men’s T20Is is currently held by Estonia’s Sahil Chauhan, who smashed a remarkable 27-ball hundred against Cyprus in 2024.

Turkey’s Muhammad Fahad follows with a 29-ball ton against Bulgaria in 2025.

Fastest centuries in men’s T20Is

Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) – 27 balls against Cyprus in 2024

Muhammad Fahad (Turkey) – 29 balls against Bulgaria in 2025

Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia) – 33 balls against Nepal in 2024

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 33 balls against Gambia in 2024

Finn Allen (New Zealand) – 33 balls against South Africa in 2026

READ: Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed join Pakistan men’s selection committee

Finn Allen seals top spot for Perth Scorchers with Melbourne Stars win

PERTH: Finn Allen continued his red-hot form as Perth Scorchers secured a six-wicket win over Melbourne Stars to finish atop the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 standings on Saturday.

The top-of-the-table clash in Perth was set up with both teams on 12 points, with a chance to end the group stage at the summit.

Scorchers made the most of the opportunity, finishing with 14 points and leaving Melbourne Stars behind on 12, while Hobart Hurricanes sit second with 13 points.

The fourth playoff spot will be decided on Sunday when the Sydney Sixers take on the Brisbane Heat.

Scorchers won the toss and opted to bowl, a decision that paid immediate dividends.

Melbourne Stars struggled against a disciplined Perth attack and were bundled out for 130 in 18.2 overs.

Jhye Richardson led the charge with a four-wicket haul, supported by David Payne and Cooper Connolly, who took two wickets each.

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The Stars’ batting lineup failed to fire, with only captain Marcus Stoinis offering resistance.

Stoinis produced a valiant 55 off 39 balls, including five fours and two sixes, but lacked support from the rest of the lineup.

Campbell Kellaway (19) and Hilton Cartwright (13) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

Chasing 131, Scorchers lost early momentum as Haris Rauf ran through the top order, picking up three wickets and reducing Perth to 26-3 in 4.1 overs.

But Finn Allen held his nerve and steadied the innings. He found a strong partner in Aaron Hardie, and the duo stitched a crucial 94-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Allen led the chase with a 39-ball 69, smashing seven sixes and two fours, before falling to Peter Siddle with just 11 runs required.

Hardie then took charge, remaining unbeaten on 41 off 37 balls, guiding Scorchers to victory with plenty of time to spare.

READ: BPL 2026: Malan, Hridoy power Rangpur Riders to win over Dhaka Capitals

Finn Allen helps Scorchers knock Renegades out of BBL 15

MELBOURNE: A scintillating century from Finn Allen propelled Perth Scorchers to a commanding victory over Melbourne Renegades, effectively ending the hosts’ campaign in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

Already assured of a playoff berth, the Scorchers strengthened their push for a top-two finish with the emphatic win.

They will now face Melbourne Stars in their final league fixture, with both sides locked on 12 points and battling for the top spot.

Hobart Hurricanes, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish second on 13 points after completing their league games.

Put in to bat, Perth made full use of the conditions as Allen and Mitchell Marsh launched the innings with a rapid 64-run opening stand.

Marsh departed for 20 off 15 deliveries, dismissed by Sam Elliott, but that did little to slow the Scorchers’ momentum.

Allen remained the driving force, combining fluency with brute power. He added 56 runs with Cooper Connolly and followed it up with a 44-run stand alongside Aaron Hardie, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.

The New Zealand batter eventually fell in the 17th over, caught off Adam Zampa after a blistering 101 off 53 balls, laced with eight sixes and five fours.

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Perth Scorchers posted an imposing 219-7 from their 20 overs, with Elliott the standout bowler for Melbourne Renegades, claiming four wickets. Zampa, Brendan Doggett and Will Sutherland chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Facing a daunting chase, the Renegades were immediately on the back foot as Josh Brown was dismissed for a duck in the opening over.

Jake Fraser-McGurk briefly injected hope with a counter-attacking 42 off just 18 balls, smashing five sixes before Luke Holt brought his cameo to an end.

With the asking rate climbing rapidly, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Tim Seifert anchored the innings from one end and later added a one-sided 60-run partnership with Sam Elliott, but the target proved well beyond reach.

Seifert eventually perished for 66 off 43 balls while attempting to accelerate, effectively sealing the Renegades’ fate.

The hosts finished on 169-7, falling 50 runs short and bowing out of the tournament.

For the Scorchers, Cooper Connolly and Mahli Beardman picked up two wickets each, while Holt and Hardie contributed with one apiece.

READ: Mitchell Starc crowned ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025

Star New Zealand batter ruled out of Zimbabwe tri-series

New Zealand opener Finn Allen has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe, starting July 14, after sustaining a foot injury during the ongoing Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 season.

Allen, who was representing the San Francisco Unicorns, picked up the injury during the league stage and will not be available for the MLC playoffs either.

The Unicorns are scheduled to face MI New York in the Eliminator on Wednesday, but have opted not to name a replacement for Finn Allen.

According to a statement issued by New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he returns to New Zealand and undergoes further specialist consultations.

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“Allen’s recovery timeline will be determined once he has returned to New Zealand and received further specialist consultations,” the statement read. “A replacement player will be named in due course.”

It’s worth noting that during Unicorns’ final league game against Los Angeles Knight Riders on July 6, Finn Allen was dismissed for 4 in the first over during a steep chase of 244.

Despite that, Allen finished the league stage as the Unicorns’ second-highest run-scorer with 333 runs in nine matches.

His tally includes a record-breaking 151 against Washington Freedom in the tournament opener in Oakland, the highest individual score in MLC history.

READ: Washington Freedom storm into MLC 2025 final after rain washes out Qualifier 1

Finn Allen rewrites T20 record books with blistering 151 in MLC 2025 opener

OAKLAND: New Zealand’s Finn Allen set Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 alight with a jaw-dropping 151-run knock for San Francisco Unicorns, shattering multiple records during the opening match of the tournament opener on Thursday.

Opening the innings against Washington Freedom, Allen went on an all-out assault, powering the Unicorns to a mammoth 269 for 5.

This score is the highest in MLC history and marks the first time a team has surpassed the 250-run mark in a T20 match played in the United States.

Watch MLC 2025 Live on ARY ZAP

In response, Washington Freedom folded for a mere 146, handing Unicorns a thumping 123-run win.

Moreover, the Kiwi opener smashed 19 sixes in his innings, setting a new world record for most sixes in a T20 innings. The previous best was 18, jointly held by Chris Gayle (in BPL 2017) and Sahil Chauhan (against Cyprus in 2024).

Finn Allen reached his 150 in just 49 balls, surpassing Dewald Brevis’ record of 52 balls for the fastest 150 in T20s.

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His eventual 151 is now the highest individual score in MLC history, eclipsing Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 137 in the 2023 edition’s final, which, notably, came before the league was granted official T20 status.

He brought up his hundred in 34 balls, making it the second-fastest century in a franchise T20 league, only behind Chris Gayle’s 30-ball ton for RCB in IPL 2013. It also went past Pooran’s 40-ball century in the 2023 MLC final.

In total, Allen scored 134 runs in boundaries, including 114 via sixes alone, a boundary dominance bettered by only three other players in T20 history.

READ: MLC 2025: Finn Allen’s 151 powers San Francisco Unicorns to victory

MLC 2025: Finn Allen’s 151 powers San Francisco Unicorns to victory

OAKLAND: Finn Allen played a fiery 151-run knock to power San Francisco Unicorns to a thumping victory over Washington Freedom in the opening match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2025 at the Oakland Coliseum here on Thursday.

Washington Freedom skipper Glenn Maxwell invited the Unicorns to bat first after the coin flipped in his favour.

Jack Edwards provided the first breakthrough to defending champions as he dismissed Tim Seifert (18) in the third over.

Jake Fraser-McGurk (6) came out to bat and was involved in a one-sided 37-run stand with Allen before falling prey to Saurabh Netravalkar.

Allen was joined by Sanjay Krishnamurthi, and together they turned the game on its head, smashing 88 runs off 37 balls for the third-wicket partnership.

Krishnamurthi played a 36-run knock from 20 balls with the help of 1 four and four consecutive sixes against Rachin Ravindra. He was removed by Ian Holland in the 12th over with 153 runs on the board.

Allen maintained his aggressive approach and scored his century in just 34 balls, making it the fastest century in MLC history.

Watch MLC 2025 Live on ARY ZAP

He didn’t stop there; he also reached 150 runs in 49 balls, hitting his 19th six of the innings. This achievement set a new record for the most sixes in a single innings.

Mitchell Owen finally ended Allen’s fiery knock, getting him out on 151 on the first ball of the 18th over.

Hassan Khan then played a quick-fire cameo of 38*, laced with three fours and three sixes, to take the team’s total to 269-5 in their allocated 20 overs.

Washington Freedom’s bowling card was topped by Jack Edwards, who returned with figures of 2-39, while Netravalkar, Owen and Holland chipped in with one wicket each.

While chasing a mammoth target, Mitchell Owen and Rachin Ravindra put together an impressive 80-run opening partnership off just 32 balls, setting the stage for an exciting match.

Unfortunately, both batters were dismissed in consecutive overs, causing the Freedom to lose momentum in their run chase.

Liam Plunkett dismissed the dangerous Ravindra in the sixth over; Ravindra scored 42 runs off 17 balls, hitting two fours and five sixes.

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In the following over, Owen, who contributed 39 runs from 20 balls, was run out, leaving the team struggling at 97-2 in 6.4 overs.

Washington Freedom failed to recover from this, losing six wickets in three overs and falling to 117 for 8 in just 9.5 overs.

Haris Rauf took two crucial wickets in the eighth over, dismissing Glenn Maxwell for 5 runs and Glenn Phillips for a duck, which worsened Freedom’s situation.

In the following over, Hassan Khan then continued the onslaught by getting rid of Andries Gous for 2 runs and Jack Edwards for 21 runs in the next over.

Meanwhile, Carmi le Roux claimed the wickets of Obus Pienaar (2) and Mukhtar Ahmed (1) to further dent any chances of recovery.

Rauf and Khan added one wicket each to their tally as they bundled Washington Freedom for a meagre 146, handing a 123-run victory to San Francisco Unicorns.

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Quetta Gladiators overpower Peshawar Zalmi to kick off PSL 10

RAWALPINDI: Saud Shakeel’s half-century and Abrar Ahmed’s four-wicket haul steered Quetta Gladiators past Peshawar Zalmi in the second match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 here at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

In their pursuit of a daunting target of 217 runs, Peshawar Zalmi, captained by Babar Azam, was bowled out for just 136, resulting in an 80-run defeat.

Peshawar Zalmi had a rough start, losing their captain Babar Azam for a duck with only three runs on the board, as he was dismissed by Mohammad Amir in the very first over.

Saim Ayub, returning to competitive cricket after an injury, put up a valiant effort, scoring a fifty off 37 balls, but struggled to find stable partners.

The left-handed batsman hit four sixes and three fours during his innings. Hussain Talat added a quick 35 runs off 19 balls, including three sixes.

For the Quetta Gladiators, Abrar Ahmed was the standout performer, taking four wickets for 42 runs in his four overs, while both Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq claimed two wickets each.

Abrar Ahmed was awarded Player of the Match for his remarkable performance.

Earlier, Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel struck half-centuries to power Quetta Gladiators to 216-3 against Peshawar Zalmi

Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam invited Quetta Gladiators to bat first after winning the toss, however, the decision backfired, courtesy of Allen and Shakeel’s brilliant strokeplay.

The opening pair smashed 88 runs in 6.5 overs before Sufiyan Muqeem broke the partnership with the prized wicket of Allen, who scored 53 runs from 25 balls, with the help of five boundaries and four sixes.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Hasan Nawaz joined Shakeel, and together, they took the team’s total to 151 inside 16 overs, adding 63 runs for the second wicket. However, both batters fell in quick succession, leaving Quetta Gladiators reeling at 158-3.

Shakeel top-scored for Quetta Gladiators with a 59-run knock from 42 balls, laced with eight boundaries, including two sixes, meanwhile, Nawaz struck 41 off 32.

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Kusal Mendis (35) and Rilee Rossouw (21) then joined hands to stitch an unbeaten 58-run stand to take the team’s total to 216-3 in their allocated 20 overs.

For Peshawar Zalmi, Ali Raza, Alzarri Joseph, and Sufiyan Muqeem picked one wicket each.

PLAYING XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Finn Allen, Hasan Nawaz, Kusal Mendis (wk), Saud Shakeel (c), Rilee Rossouw, Shoaib Malik, Faheem Ashraf, Kyle Jamieson, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, Usman Tariq

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris (wk), Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Max Bryant, Mitchell Owen, Hussain Talat, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammad Ali, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza

READ: Karachi Kings suffer major blow ahead of Multan Sultans clash

Ton-up Allen powers Unicorns into MLC 2024 final as Super Kings falter

DALLAS: Finn Allen’s quickfire century was enough to propel San Francisco Unicorns into the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024 final as Texas Super Kings fell short by 10 runs in the Challenger here at Grand Prairie Stadium on Friday.

Super Kings’ captain Faf du Plessis’ decision to put Unicorns into bat first did not turn out to be beneficial for his side as they registered a massive total on the board.

The Unicorns finished their innings at 200/6 in the allotted 20 overs with Allen leading the charge with a quick hundred.

The New Zealand international went after the Super Kings’ bowlers from the word go and went on to smash nine fours and five sixes amid his sensational knock that lasted in the 14th over.

Finn Allen remained the top-scorer for the Unicorns with a 53-ball 101.

Wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis then made sure to keep the momentum going in the Unicorns’ favour with a brisk cameo.

All-rounder Hassan Khan supported Inglis as the two shared an important 34-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Inglis perished in the penultimate over after a 25-ball 37 while Khan made an unbeaten 27 off 15 deliveries.

Noor Ahmad was the pick of the bowlers for the Super Kings, picking up three wickets while Ottneil Baartman, Marcus Stoinis and Mohammad Mohsin made one scalp each.

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In response, the Super Kings could manage 190/4 in their quota of 20 overs despite a flying start.

Their skipper du Plessis smashed the Unicorns’ bowlers all around the ground right from the start and gave his side a solid platform to chase down the total.

But a stunning catch from Corey Anderson off Carmi le Roux drew curtains on his blazing knock in the fifth over with 55 runs on the board.

Faf du Plessis scored 45 off just 22 deliveries, hitting seven fours and a six.

His dismissal pushed the Super Kings to the backfoot as the scoring rate slowed down.

The home side lost three more wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 91/4 at the halfway mark.

Conway, who batted cautiously until that point, finally received some support from the other end in the form of Joshua Tromp.

The duo fought valiantly in the concluding phase of the match but despite putting up a hundred runs amid their unbeaten fifth-wicket partnership, failed to steer the Super Kings over the line.

Conway remained the top-scorer for the Super Kings with a gritty 62 off 38 deliveries, laced up with four fours and two sixes while Tromp made 56 not out in just 36 balls.

Juanoy Drysdale led the bowling attack for the Unicorns with two wickets while Hassan Khan and Carmi le Roux chipped in with a wicket apiece.

San Francisco Unicorns will face Washington Freedom in the MLC 2024 final, scheduled to take place at the same venue on Sunday.

READ: Jasprit Bumrah picks himself as his favourite India captain

Depleted New Zealand sustain major blow ahead of Pakistan T20Is

New Zealand’s inexperienced squad for the five-match away T20I series against Pakistan got weakened as hard-hitting opener Finn Allen and speedster Adam Milne have been ruled out of the series.

According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), Allen and Milne suffered injuries in the team’s training session that concluded just hours before their departure for Pakistan.

Adam Milne felt discomfort in his ankle while Finn Allen sustained an injury to his back and were subsequently left out of New Zealand’s already depleted squad.

“We feel for both Finn and Adam, suffering injuries so close to the start of the tour. They have been strong performers for us in the T20 format since the last World Cup,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said.

“Our support staff and medical networks will be working closely with both players over the next few weeks to complete plans for their treatment and subsequent return to cricket.”

As a result, wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell and all-rounder Zak Foulkes replaced Allen and Milne respectively.

Blundell has previously visited Pakistan while uncapped Foulkes will likely be making his debut for New Zealand.

“Zak has had an impressive season for Canterbury including being their leading wicket-taker in all three competitions,” Stead said.

“He has displayed impressive skills with the ball, particularly in T20 cricket for the Kings. We also know he has skills with the bat and it will be an excellent opportunity for him to be part of the group.”

New Zealand squad:

Michael Bracewell (c), Tom Blundell, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Zak Foulkes, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi.

Pakistan Squad:

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand are slated to reach Pakistan on April 14, two days after Pakistan’s squad announcement, for the crucial series, leading to the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup.

Rawalpindi’s Pindi Cricket Stadium will host the first three T20Is between Pakistan and New Zealand on 18, 20 and 21 April.

The two sides will then travel to Lahore to lock horns in the remaining two T20Is on 25 and 27 April, respectively.

READ: Selection committee explains Azam Khan’s inclusion in Pakistan squad

“Awesome opportunity for young guys,” Finn Allen on Pakistan T20Is

New Zealand’s hard-hitting opener Finn Allen termed the upcoming five-match away T20I series against Pakistan an “awesome opportunity” for the young players.

New Zealand’s top players, namely Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitch Santner, and Kane Williamson were all unavailable for the T20I series against Pakistan due to their participation in the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, Finn Allen believes that the unavailability of the top players would reward young players like Tim Robinson, who had impressed during the Super Smash tournament in New Zealand.

“It is an awesome opportunity with players being away at the IPL, for young guys such as Tim Robinson, who have shown their talent and had a good Super Smash tournament here in New Zealand during the summer,” Allen told Press Trust of India (PTI).

“It is rewarding for those guys and allows them to get an opportunity at the top level to see where they stand against a formidable Pakistan side,” he said.

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Finn Allen, fresh from a remarkable century against Pakistan earlier this year at home, acknowledged that it would be a tough challenge to compete against Pakistan in their backyard.

“I guess with the upcoming series, we batted out with them at home not too long ago, but it is on their turf now, and we know from tours in the past that they are pretty tough to beat at home,” Allen said.

“Hopefully, Mark Chapman can pull through for the boys again like last time, but I think it will be a good challenge and a good series,” he added.

New Zealand T20I squad vs Pakistan

Michael Bracewell (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Adam Milne, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

READ: Junaid Khan disappointed over New Zealand top players missing Pakistan tour