New Zealand annihilate South Africa to reach T20 World Cup final

New Zealand annihilate South Africa to reach T20 World Cup finalFinn Allen hits fastest century at a T20 World Cup as New Zealand crush South Africa by nine wickets to reach final.Published On 4 Mar 2026New ⁠Zealand stormed into the Twenty20 World Cup final ⁠with a nine-wicket demolition of South Africa in ⁠the first semifinal at the Eden Gardens.Put into bat, South Africa recovered ‌from a precarious 77-5 to post a competitive 169-8 after Marco Jansen led their recovery with a belligerent 55 not ⁠out.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Iran’s Women’s Asian Cup team have ‘so much concern’ for families back homelist 2 of 4‘Sports cold war’: How the Middle East conflict could disrupt the World Cuplist 3 of 4FIFA World Cup 2026 ticket frenzy unfolds amid global unrestlist 4 of 4Will the US-Israeli attacks on Iran have an impact on the World Cup?end of listFinn Allen smashed an ⁠unbeaten 100 off 33 balls, however, and shared a 117-run ⁠opening stand with Tim Seifert (58) as ⁠New Zealand romped ⁠to their target in only 12.5 overs.Allen’s achievement was the fastest century scored at a T20 cricket World Cup.“We wanted to start well and put them on the back foot early,” Allen said. “It is easy for me when Tim [Seifert] is going like that. The way he batted got us off to an absolute flyer.“It is easy in semifinals to stay up for the fight, and with Tim [Seifert] we keep each other in it, and we enjoy it out there together.”Earlier, Jansen’s fifty came in response to the Kiwis’ spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie taking two wickets each before Tristan Stubbs and Jansen put on 73 to rescue the innings at Kolkata, India’s Eden Gardens.Stubbs (29) and Jansen, who hit two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball knock, helped set New Zealand a target of 170 to reach the final.India successfully chased 196 against the West Indies on Sunday on the same ground.South Africa were the only unbeaten team in the tournament, while New Zealand had edged into the semifinals on net run rate.McConchie struck first in the second over with his off-spin to send back Quinton de Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton next ball, but Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick.