New Delhi: New Zealand’s explosive batter Find Allen scripted history by becoming the first Kiwi cricketer to score three T20 centuries in a calendar year, following his match-winning knock for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the IPL 2026.
Allen achieved the milestone in spectacular fashion, smashing an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls to guide KKR to a commanding eight-wicket win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. His innings, studded with five fours and 10 towering sixes, came at a staggering strike rate of 212.77 and completely dismantled the Delhi bowling attack.
Historic year for Finn Allen
The century against DC marked Allen’s third T20 hundred of the year, making him the first New Zealand batter to achieve this rare feat in a single calendar year.
Earlier in 2026, Allen had already displayed his explosive batting prowess across formats and leagues. He scored a 53-ball century for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL), showcasing his dominance in franchise cricket. He followed it up with a sensational 33-ball century against South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup semi-final, which stands as the fastest century in the history of both T20 and 50-over World Cups combined.
This remarkable consistency across global tournaments highlights Allen’s emergence as one of the most dangerous T20 batters in world cricket.
Joins elite list of KKR centurions
With this knock, Allen became only the fourth player to score an IPL century for Kolkata Knight Riders. He joins an elite list featuring Brendon McCullum, Venkatesh Iyer, and Sunil Narine.
He also became just the second New Zealand batter after McCullum to score a century in the IPL. McCullum’s iconic unbeaten 158 in the inaugural IPL match in 2008 remains one of the most memorable innings in the tournament’s history.
Allen’s innings also featured the third-highest number of sixes by a KKR batter in a single IPL innings. His 10 sixes place him behind Andre Russell’s 11 sixes against Chennai Super Kings in 2018 and McCullum’s record 13 sixes during his historic knock.
Dominance in IPL 2026 season
In the ongoing IPL 2026 season, Allen has been a key contributor for KKR. In seven innings, he has scored 210 runs at an average of 35.00 and a phenomenal strike rate of 205.88, including his match-winning century.
Overall, in 2026, Allen has accumulated 905 runs in 23 T20 innings at an average of 45.25 and a strike rate of 195.04. His tally includes three centuries and three fifties, underlining his consistency and match-winning ability across competitions.
Match recap: KKR outclass Delhi Capitals
The match itself saw a complete team performance from KKR. After winning the toss and opting to field, they restricted Delhi Capitals to 142 for 8 in 20 overs.
Pathum Nissanka top-scored for DC with a fluent 50 off 29 balls, while KL Rahul provided a steady start. However, KKR’s bowlers, led by Anukul Roy (2/31), applied the brakes in the middle overs. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine tightened the screws with disciplined spells, while Kartik Tyagi picked up two crucial wickets.
Ashutosh Sharma’s late cameo of 39 off 28 balls helped DC post a respectable total, but it proved insufficient against KKR’s batting firepower.
In reply, KKR faced early setbacks, losing Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi with just 31 runs on the board. However, Allen took charge of the innings, stitching a match-winning 116-run partnership with Cameron Green, who remained unbeaten on 33 off 27 balls.
KKR chased down the target in just 14.2 overs, securing their fourth consecutive victory and boosting their playoff hopes significantly.
Playoff implications
With this win, Kolkata Knight Riders climbed to seventh position in the IPL 2026 points table, keeping their playoff chances alive. Their resurgence at a crucial stage of the tournament has added excitement to the race for the top four.
On the other hand, Delhi Capitals slumped to eighth place after suffering their fifth successive defeat at home and seventh overall this season. Their chances of making the playoffs are now virtually over.
Conclusion
Finn Allen’s record-breaking third T20 century of the year not only secured a crucial victory for KKR but also marked a significant milestone in his career. His explosive form has made him one of the standout performers of 2026, and if he continues in this vein, he could play a decisive role in KKR’s late push for the IPL playoffs.
Comments are closed.