The landscape of T20 International cricket was rewritten on March 4, 2026, at Eden Gardens. New Zealand’s Finn Allen produced a masterclass in power-hitting during the World Cup semi-final against South Africa, securing his spot among the elite “sub-35 ball” centurions.
Here is the updated leaderboard for the quickest hundreds in T20I history:
27 balls – Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) vs Cyprus, 2024
29 balls – Muhammad Fahad (Turkey) vs Bulgaria, 2025
33 balls – Finn Allen (New Zealand) vs South Africa, 2026
33 balls – Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton (Namibia) vs Nepal, 2024
33 balls – Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) vs Gambia, 2024
Finn Allen vs. South Africa
Finn Allen’s 33-ball century in SA vs NZ T20 WC semifinal in Kolkata isn’t just a personal milestone; it is now officially the fastest century in T20 World Cup history, shattering the previous record held by Chris Gayle (47 balls).
The Powerplay Destruction: Allen led New Zealand to 84/0 in the first six overs – the highest powerplay score in a World Cup knockout match.
Milestones: He reached his half-century in just 19 deliveries before accelerating to the triple-digit mark in another 14 balls.
Six-Hitting Spree: Finn Allen’s innings included 12 sixes, frequently clearing the long-on and mid-wicket boundaries at Eden Gardens with ease.
The Elite Club: A Brief History
Finn Allen’s ton vs NZ tonight is the fastest in a World Cup, but Sahil Chauhan remains the overall T20I king with his 27-ball miracle against Cyprus. Interestingly, 2024 and 2025 saw a surge in rapid centuries from Associate nations, but Allen’s 33-ball ton is widely regarded as the most significant, given it came against a top-tier South African attack in a World Cup semi-final.
Finn Allen brought up his century in just 33 deliveries – a knock packed with milestones:
The quickest hundred ever recorded in T20 World Cup history
The fastest century against a Full Member nation in T20 Internationals
Joint third-fastest hundred across all T20Is
Joint fastest T20I century by a batter from a Full Member side, alongside Sikandar Raza’s ton against Gambia in Nairobi (2024)
