In a stunning display of power-hitting, New Zealand opener Finn Allen equaled the world record for the most sixes in a T20 International (T20I) during the third T20I clash against Pakistan in Dunedin on Wednesday.
Allen Shatters Records with Unforgettable Century
Finn Allen’s explosive innings not only propelled New Zealand to a formidable total of 224/7 after 20 overs but also set multiple records in T20I cricket. His blistering knock of 137 off 62 balls stands as the highest individual score by a New Zealand batter in this format, surpassing Brendon McCullum’s previous record of 123.
A Six-Hitting Masterclass
Allen’s onslaught included an astounding 16 sixes, placing him on par with Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai, who achieved a similar feat against Ireland four years ago. This performance marked the first instance of a New Zealand batter hitting more than 10 sixes in a T20I inning.
Fastest Centuries by a Kiwi in T20Is
The right-hander’s whirlwind century, completed in just 48 balls, ranks as the third-fastest by a New Zealander in the shortest format. Glenn Phillips holds the record for the fastest T20I hundred by a Kiwi, achieving it off 46 balls.
Finn Allen’s Domination
Allen’s exceptional form continued from the previous T20I, where he scored 74 off 41 balls. His devastating partnership of 125 runs with Tim Seifert laid the foundation for New Zealand’s commanding position in the series, putting them in sight of victory with two games to spare.
Haris Rauf bore the brunt of Allen’s assault, conceding 27 runs in a single over, featuring three sixes, two fours, and a single. The display left the high-quality Pakistan bowling attack, including Captain Shaheen Afridi, in disarray.
The sheer power of Allen’s hitting forced the umpires to call for replacement balls three times during the match, as the opener dispatched deliveries out of the ground with remarkable ease.
While Mohammad Wasim Junior and Zaman Khan managed to maintain a relatively economical spell, the rest of the Pakistan bowling lineup, including Captain Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, faced the brunt of Allen’s onslaught, conceding more than 10 runs an over.
Zaman Khan Praises Finn Allen after Match-Defining Wicket
In the 18th over, Zaman Khan bowled an off-cutter to dismiss Allen, breaking the batsman’s prolific innings. Khan’s gesture of applauding Allen as he left the field highlighted the respect earned by the New Zealand opener.
Finn Allen’s record-breaking performance not only etched his name in the T20I history books but also put New Zealand in a commanding position to secure a series win, maintaining their unbeaten record at Dunedin’s University Oval.
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