Finn Allen created history by smashing the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 33 balls against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal. Here’s a look at the batters who feature in the list of the fastest hundreds in T20 World Cup history.
Finn Allen scored a 33-ball hundred against South Africa, breaking the record for the fastest century in T20 World Cups. Image Credit: X/@BLACKCAPS
Finn Allen created history with a record-breaking century against South Africa in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026. The right-handed batter reached the triple-figure mark in only 33 balls, smashing the bowlers from the Proteas all around the park in Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Allen was duly supported by Tim Seifert, who scored 58 runs in 33 balls.
Allen broke Chris Gayle’s record set in 2016 to reach the top of the list for the fastest hundreds in T20 World Cups. Here is a look at the list of fastest hundreds in the history of the T20 World Cups.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 #𝐓𝟐𝟎𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝𝐂𝐮𝐩 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 ✨
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
Relive Finn Allen’s knock for the ages against South Africa in the semi-final 📹 https://t.co/PQPdgS31CL pic.twitter.com/7GDqsZDPbw
Finn Allen proved to be the point of difference between South Africa and New Zealand in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The right-handed batter powered the Blackcaps to yet another final of the T20 World Cups with a 33-ball hundred.
South Africa was the team to beat in the tournament coming into this clash. New Zealand’s previous head-to-head record, 0-5 against the Proteas, was not much to write about. However, Allen, hitting eight sixes and 10 fours, made a mockery of the target of 170 runs, chasing it down in only 12.5 overs.
| Rank | Player | Country | Balls Taken | Opposition | Date |
| 1 | Finn Allen | New Zealand | 33 | South Africa | 04.03.2026 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 47 | England | 16.03.2016 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 50 | South Africa | 11.09.2007 |
| 4 | Harry Brook | England | 50 | Pakistan | 24.02.2026 |
| 5 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 51 | Bangladesh | 21.09.2012 |
Brendon McCullum ranks fifth when it comes to fastest centuries in the T20 World Cup. The former New Zealand opening batter reached the milestone in 51 balls against Bangladesh in the 2012 T20 World Cup.
Harry Brook recently made it to the record list for the fastest centuries in T20 World Cups. The English skipper reached the triple-figure mark in 50 balls against Pakistan in the ongoing T20 World Cup. In his knock, Brook hit four sixes and 10 fours.
There is seldom a T20 batting record list that does not feature Chris Gayle. The Universe Boss scored a fifty-ball ton in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 against South Africa. Gayle’s ton in the 2007 T20 World Cup was the first century in the shortest format.
Chris Gayle unsurprisingly features twice in the list for the fastest century in T20 World Cups. The former left-handed batter for the West Indies scored a 47-ball ton against England in the 2016 T20 World Cup.
Finn Allen scores the fastest hundred in Men's #T20WorldCup history to power New Zealand into the final👏
— ICC (@ICC) March 4, 2026
It is one of the @marriottbonvoy Milestones of the #T20WorldCup 2026 👌
📝: https://t.co/nv2bu4uGh7 pic.twitter.com/PSuPYu3rfx
Finn Allen broke the record for the fastest century in T20 World Cups in some fashion. He not only broke Gayle’s nine-year-long record but also managed to better it by 14 balls. The right-handed batter’s ton came in a high-stakes encounter in the semi-final against South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Also Read: WATCH: Tim Seifert Struck on Face While Wicketkeeping in NZ vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Semifinal
