Finn Allen, in a sensational display, propelled New Zealand to 224/7 after breaking numerous records in just 20 overs.
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Finn Allen’s Wrath:
With 137 runs off 62 balls, his performance in T20Is now stands as the highest individual score by any New Zealander. It was a Wednesday mission for Finn Allen, determined to hit sixes no matter what. And my, what success he had! In T20Is, the opening batsman treated Pakistan’s bowling attack in Dunedin like a club team, putting on a power-hitting display.
Excellent piece of fielding by Santner:
An excellent piece of fielding from the skipper Santner. Pakistan five down in Dunedin. Follow play LIVE and free in NZ on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ #NZvPAK pic.twitter.com/2GFCHpTzAc
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 17, 2024
Breaking the record for the most sixes in a T20I innings for New Zealand, Finn Allen’s 16 sixes equaled Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai, who achieved a similar feat against Ireland four years ago. After 20 overs, New Zealand reached 224/7, with Allen’s 137 runs now the highest individual score in this format for any New Zealand batsman, surpassing Brendon McCullum’s previous record of 123 runs.
Finn Allen’ century:
Finn Allen’s whirlwind century, achieved in just 41 balls in the previous T20I, marked his second T20I hundred. The right-handed batsman reached his century in only 48 balls, setting a new record for the third-fastest century by any New Zealand player in this format. Glenn Phillips holds the record for the fastest T20 century by a Kiwi, scoring it in 46 balls.
Finn Allen proved to be particularly challenging for Haris Rauf , hitting three sixes, two fours, and a single in a single over, accumulating 27 runs. The stormy innings by Allen brought New Zealand in a strong position to wrap up the series with two games remaining at the University Oval in Dunedin.
After a quick dismissal of Devon Conway for seven runs, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert formed a partnership of 125 runs for the second wicket. Seifert contributed only 31 runs, opting for singles to keep the strike to the explosive opening batsman.
Accolades from the New Zealand crowd:
At the University Oval in Dunedin, Finn Allen’s thunderous innings not only helped New Zealand win the series but also established a new standard for himself. He finally got out in the 18th over, bowled by Shahnawaz Dahani, receiving accolades from the New Zealand crowd for his exceptional performance.
All Pakistani bowlers, except Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Shahnawaz Dahani, conceded more than 10 runs per over. Captain Shadab Khan gave away 43 runs in his four overs, while Haris Rauf conceded 60 runs in his entire spell.
Rauf on retirement:
After contemplating international retirement, Haris Rauf was blasted in the third T20 match against New Zealand, with 4 wickets for 60 runs in four overs. Following criticism and withdrawal from the Test series against Australia, Rauf had considered stepping away from international cricket. However, he returned after discussions with team director Mohammad Hafeez and chief selector Wahab Riaz.
Rauf’s choice was well-made, as he demonstrated his ability to produce bounce on the available pitches by bowling with skill and pace against Australia. Despite concerns about his fitness, Rauf’s performance in the ICC event made him the most expensive bowler in Pakistan’s World Cup history. After discussions with team management, Rauf finally decided to make a comeback.
In his assessment, Rauf was correct. In December, after bowling only 13 overs in a Test match against England, he sustained an injury. However, the confusion that arose was fueled by sensational reports. Wahab claimed that Haris was committed to playing against Australia, while close sources to the fast bowler revealed that he never made such a commitment.
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