Finn Allen’s monstrous knock against South Africa in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup 2026 has become the latest talk of the town. From cricket fans on social media platforms to the cricket experts in studios, everyone is mesmerized by the unbeaten 100 in 33 deliveries.
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis heap praises for the New Zealand opener. During a match after a discussion panel for ESPNcricinfo, the ex-cricketer thoroughly explains how Allen was able to play so swiftly against the proven bowling attack of South Africa, which had bowlers like Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Keshav Maharaj.
Faf du Plessis pointed out the difference between Finn Allen and the other batters with the same tempo
Faf du Plessis observed that, in general, the batters who play with similar intensity often get out between 30 and 50 runs. But Finn Allen can continue the innings till the end. Once he gets set on track, he is capable of producing long-standing knocks, as he did exactly against South Africa on March 5 in Kolkata, chasing a target of 170. Notably, the Kiwi batter has 3 centuries and 7 half-centuries.
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Faf du Plessis: Strength + Smartness = Finn Allen #TimeOut pic.twitter.com/nZC0h7EMQp
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 5, 2026
“What makes him so dangerous is that a lot of guys who play at that tempo, are generally guys who can get you a 30 to a 50, and then they get out. But the thing with Finn is his numbers in terms of when he gets runs. He actually gets big runs.”
So like even in the circuit around T20 cricket, there’s been a few hundreds. There have been a few 90s. So, that’s when someone really makes a difference”, Faf du Plessis said.
du Plessis called Finn Allen “Smart”
It is not only the power or tempo, but it is also the smartness that makes Finn Allen different from other batters of the format. The former South Africa international praised the batter’s smartness, especially.
“It’s just obviously understands his tempo really well. So, when we speak about tempo. It’s not just trying to hit six on every ball. There’s smartness”, du Plessis added.
The former opener felt that Finn Allen became smarter by playing for the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. The Australian pitches traditionally offer extra bounce.
As Finn has played a lot of cricket on the bouncy tracks of Australia, he has mastered the technique of handling the extra bounce. Marco Jansen, the tall South African pacer, who generates extra bounce, was also vandalized by the Kiwi opener last night.
Australian soil might have helped the Kiwi opener a lot
“You saw there was smartness today like the lap. That’s a shot. He’s perfected playing at the Perth Scorchers because there’s so much bounce there. So he literally just rely on that. So his decision-making is Marco Jansen has got pace and bounce. So I’m gonna use the pace and the bounce to execute him”, the former cricketer, now a cricket expert explained.
“Whereas against a different bowl er you might come taking you downtown because so what I’m saying is he’s. Ability to shift between the gears from the first over”, he added.
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