New Zealand annihilate South Africa to reach T20 World Cup final
Al Jazeera
March 4, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
New Zealand secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup semifinal, powered by Finn Allen's record-breaking fastest century in tournament history. Batting first, South Africa managed to post 169-8 despite an early collapse, with Marco Jansen leading their recovery with a fiery 55 not out. However, New Zealand's explosive start proved decisive, as Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, while Tim Seifert contributed 58 in a century-opening partnership worth 117 runs. This allowed New Zealand to chase down the target in just 12.5 overs, setting up a final clash against India on Sunday.
The match was a masterclass in power hitting and adaptability. South Africa's innings saw them stumble early but claw their way back with Jansen's aggressive play alongside Tristan Stubbs. New Zealand's spinners, including Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie, took crucial wickets to limit South Africa's recovery. Allen's century was a sight to behold, combining brute strength with precision, while Se
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 3/4/2026