Finn Allen’s tremendous innings against South Africa in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026 has become the latest talk of the town. From cricket fans on social media platforms to cricket experts in the studios, everyone is mesmerized by the unbeaten 100 off 33 balls.
Former South African captain Faf du Plessis praised the New Zealand opener. During a post-match discussion panel on ESPNcricinfo, the former cricketer explained in detail how Allen was able to play at such pace against South Africa’s proven bowling attack, which featured bowlers like Marco Johnson, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Keshav Maharaj.
Faf du Plessis points out the difference between Finn Allen and other batsmen with similar pace
Faf du Plessis observed that, in general, batsmen playing with similar intensity often got 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 playing long innings, as he did while chasing the target of 170 against South Africa in Kolkata on March 5. Notably, the Kiwi batsman has 3 centuries and 7 half-centuries to his name.
Here is the video
Faf du Plessis: Strength + Smartness = Finn Allen #timeout pic.twitter.com/nZC0h7EMQp
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 5 March 2026
“The thing that makes him so dangerous is that a lot of guys who play at that pace are usually guys who can get you 30 to 50 runs, and then they get out. But the thing with Finn is that when he gets runs, his numbers are there. He gets really big runs.”
So even in the T20 cricket circuit, there have been some centuries scored. There have been some 90s. So, that’s when someone really makes a difference”, said Faf du Plessis.
Du Plessis calls Finn Allen ‘smart’
It is not just power or pace but also cleverness that makes Finn Allen different from other batsmen in the format. The former South African international particularly praised the batsman’s cleverness.
“He obviously understands his pace very well. So, when we talk about pace, it’s not just trying to hit sixes on every ball. There’s smarts in it,” Du Plessis said.
The former opening batsman believes Finn Allen has become smarter by playing for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. Australian pitches traditionally offer extra bounce.
Since the Finn has played a lot of cricket on the bouncy pitches of Australia, he has mastered the technique of dealing with the extra bounce. Tall South African fast bowler Marco Johnson, who created extra bounce, was also brutalized by the Kiwi opener last night.
The Kiwi opener must have got a lot of help from Australian soil.
“You saw that lap-like smartness today. He’s a shot. He’s adept at playing at Perth Scorchers because there’s a lot of bounce. So he’s really reliant on that. So his decision-maker, Marco Jensen, has pace and bounce. So I’m going to use pace and bounce to enforce that”, the former cricketer, now a cricket expert, explained.
“Whereas against a different bowler it can take you downtown because that’s what I’m saying. The ability to shift between gears from the first over,” he said.
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