New Zealand opener Finn Allen’s stormy batting performance helped the Blackcaps to thrash the visitors Pakistan in the third T20I at Dunedin and seal the five-match T20I series by leading it 3-0 with two matches to go.
During that game, the T20I centurion Allen equalled the world record for most sixes in a T20I innings and also broke the previous record for the highest T20I score for New Zealand.
Key Takeaways:
Finn Allen's explosive innings of 137 runs in 62 balls helped New Zealand secure a comprehensive victory against Pakistan in the third T20I, sealing the series 3-0.
Allen equaled the world record for most sixes in a T20I innings with 16 sixes, surpassing the previous highest T20I score for New Zealand.
His century in 48 balls marked the third-fastest T20I century by a New Zealand cricketer, setting a new record for the country's highest individual T20I score.
Q: Who holds the world record for the most sixes in a T20I innings, and how many sixes did Finn Allen hit to equal this record?
A: The world record for the most sixes in a T20I innings was initially held by Hazratullah Zazai with 16 sixes. Finn Allen matched this record by hitting 16 sixes against Pakistan in the third T20I.
Finn Allen scored 137 runs in 62 balls
In that do-or-die match in Dunedin T20I on Wednesday (17 January), Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi chose to field first. Opener Finn Allen was unstoppable in the first innings of the match. After scoring a 26-ball fifty, the opening batter completed his second T20I century in 48 balls.
Before the young right-arm pacer Zaman Khan bowled Allen in the 18th over, the Blackcaps opener already scored 137 runs in only 62 balls with the help of 16 sixes and five fours. It was a record-breaking knock in the New Zealand T20I history, while Allen also put his name into the record book of most sixes in a T20I innings.
Although only Tim Seifert (31) and Glenn Phillips (19) were the other New Zealand batters with unmatchable double-digit scores in that innings, Allen’s knock was enough for the hosts to manage the giant total of 224/7 in 20 overs.
In reply, Pakistan scored 179/7 in 20 overs as New Zealand comfortably won by 45 runs. Although Babar Azam scored 58 runs, there were no other big scores despite getting starts.
Here are some crucial stats of Finn Allen’s brilliant knock
Joint world record sixes
With 16 sixes, Allen equalled the record for the most sixes in a T20I innings. Previously, Afghanistan cricketer Hazratullah Zazai lonely held the record with 16 sixes against Ireland at Dehradun on 23 February 2019.
Highest T20I score by New Zealand
With his 137 runs knock, Allen also set up a new record for the highest individual T20I score by a New Zealand batter. The previous record was 123 by Brendon McCullum against Bangladesh at Pallekele on 21 September 2012.
3rd fastest T20I century by New Zealand
Allen’s 48-ball hundred was the third fastest T20I century by a New Zealand cricketer. The top two records in this list are a 46-ball hundred by Glenn Phillips (vs West Indies at Mount Maunganui on 29 November 2020) and a 47-ball hundred by Colin Munro (vs West Indies at Mount Maunganui on 3 January 2018).
More than one T20I century by New Zealand
After Colin Munro (3 centuries), Martin Guptill (2 centuries), Brendon McCullum (2 centuries), and Glenn Phillips (2 centuries), Allen became the fifth New Zealand cricketer to hit multiple T20I centuries.
