Hard-hitting sensation Finn Allen etched his name in cricket history during the third T20I against Pakistan in Dunedin, matching a world record by smashing 16 sixes. His remarkable innings resulted in the highest score by a Kiwi in men’s T20I internationals, surpassing Brendon McCullum’s 2012 record.
Allen’s blitzkrieg with the bat yielded an outstanding 137 runs from just 62 balls, overshadowing other contributions as New Zealand posted a formidable 224/7 in 20 overs at the University Oval. Tim Seifert’s 31 runs were valueable, but it was the 24-year-old Allen who stole the show.
Despite Shaheen Afridi winning the toss and opting to bowl, New Zealand raced to 67/1 in the Powerplay, with Seifert partnering with Allen after the early departure of Devon Conway. However, it did little to slow down the Kiwi onslaught.
Rauf finished with figures of 60 runs, including a second wicket of Mark Chapman. Mohammad Wasim was the most economical among the Pakistani bowlers, conceding 35 runs in his four overs.
The flow of runs continued unabated, with New Zealand consistently scoring at over ten runs an over. Allen’s six off the first ball of the 18th over pushed the team past the 200-run mark. However, Zaman Khan’s dismissal of Allen in the same over temporarily stemmed the flow, with Pakistan conceding only 13 runs in the final two overs.
In an electrifying display of power-hitting, Finn Allen left an indelible mark on T20I cricket, rewriting records and guiding New Zealand to a dominant victory against Pakistan.
While Finn Allen’s record-breaking performance was extraordinary, questions arise about the bowling strategy of Pakistan, raising concerns about their ability to counter aggressive batting displays.
