New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner praised Finn Allen’s “special”, match-winning century as the Black Caps crushed South Africa in a T20 World Cup semi-final, while Proteas captain Aiden Markram rued another knockout “bad night” for his side.
Allen finished exactly 100 not out off 33 balls, reaching the ton in the 13th over as New Zealand overhauled the 170 target with ease. He exploded with 24 from the first five balls of a Marco Jansen over, taking the game away from the hosts early in the chase.
South Africa had earlier been propped up by Jansen’s unbeaten 55 off 30, recovering from 77-5 to post 169-8 on an Eden Gardens pitch famed for favouring chases. The total, however, was always vulnerable on a ground where dew can make bowling harder in the second innings.
“There is a distinct advantage for batting second,” former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik had said before the game, noting the effect of dew. That advantage was amplified when Santner won the toss and elected to bowl.
Markram, whose side went into the semi-final as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, acknowledged pride in their run but pointed to conditions as a major factor in the defeat. “They bowled really well up front — the ball didn’t feel like it was coming on, some were stopping in the wicket, which made scoring really tough,” he said. “The pressure then builds and you lose wickets, unfortunately. You’ve got to give credit to their bowling unit.”
He added that getting to 170 had offered hope at the halfway point, but “then someone plays an innings like that,” referring to Allen and Tim Seifert’s 58, which together finished the match early. “Massive credit to his knock and Tim Seifert’s knock to kill the game as early as they did. Unfortunately it was just a bad night for us tonight.”
The result continues South Africa’s long wait for a global title: they remain without a World Cup win in either 50-over or T20 formats, with multiple semi-final exits and a runners-up finish two years ago. New Zealand have been a recurring nemesis in ICC knockouts, this their fourth straight knockout victory over the Proteas (2011 World Cup semi, 2015 quarter-final, last year’s Champions Trophy semi and now).
Allen said he and the team would take the positives and focus on the final. “You take the positives from this game, celebrate that little moment of success and then we’ve got a final to win on Sunday,” he said, calling the hundred “probably up there” among his best innings. He praised Seifert’s form, saying when Seifert “is going like that, it makes it easy for me.”
Santner called the partnership special and was delighted with a performance in a crunch game. “33 balls for a ton is not too bad!” he joked, adding that to produce that display against a side that had been so consistent in the tournament was particularly pleasing.
New Zealand progress to the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday, while South Africa’s search for a first global title continues. The other semi-final, England vs India at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, follows, with the final to decide New Zealand’s opponent on March 8.