T20 World Cup: Allen century powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final

Heading into this match, South Africa were favorites not only to beat New Zealand but also to end their wait for a maiden T20 World Cup title.

The unbeaten Proteas booked their place in the knockout stages with a game to spare after topping India and the West Indies in the Super 8s after reaching the top of Group D, the so-called group of death.

Head coach Shukri Conrad said on Wednesday the favorites tag was something they were more than happy to wear, but memories of Sydney in 1992, Kolkata in 1999, Melbourne in 2015 and Barbados in 2024 were revived throughout the 32.5 suspension.

Their usually reliable top-line, which included the competition’s third-highest run-scorer in Markram, faltered for the second consecutive match that was disrupted by spin, as was the case against Zimbabwe.

It was Sikandar Raza who took the opening innings in Sunday’s powerplay.

In Kolkata, Cole McConchie stood out with back-to-back deliveries in the second over, while Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton gifted Lockie Ferguson and Allen with routine catches respectively, while Ravindra Markram and Miller were in charge: South Africa 77-4.

Tasked with defending a score of 169 under par, the bowlers were left shattered; this was no more than the usually reliable Jansen, who leaked 29 runs from two powerplay overs.

Only three of the 12.5 overs needed to complete New Zealand’s quick chase cost less than 10 runs.

South Africa lost three of four matches in the men’s T20 World Cup semi-final and four of five matches in the qualifiers. In over 50 tournaments, all five semi-final rounds ended in defeat.

They may have broken their ducks with victory in the World Test Championship final last June, but their reputation as chokers remains.