New Zealand opener Finn Allen now holds the record for the fastest century in Men’s T20 World Cup history. He reached the milestone in just 33 balls against South Africa in the 2026 semi-final at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Allen’s blistering hundred broke a record that had stood for almost ten years. Chris Gayle’s famous 47-ball century for West Indies against England in the 2016 edition had long been the fastest in the tournament.
Allen finished unbeaten on 100 from 33 balls. His knock included 10 fours and eight sixes, and he scored at a strike rate of 303.03 in the high-pressure semi-final.
Fastest Centuries in T20 World Cup History
Allen’s record stands out not just for the speed but also for the gap. His century came 14 balls quicker than the previous best by Gayle in 2016.
Gayle appears twice in the top list. His 50-ball century against South Africa in the inaugural 2007 tournament remains one of the most memorable knocks in early T20 World Cup history.
New Zealand legend Brendon McCullum also features on the list. He smashed a 51-ball hundred against Bangladesh during the 2012 edition in Pallekele.
South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw added his name to the list in 2022. He reached a century in 52 balls against Bangladesh in Sydney during a dominant group-stage performance.
The 2026 tournament has already produced a surge of fast hundreds. England’s Harry Brook scored a 50-ball century against Pakistan in Pallekele earlier in the competition.
Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka matched that pace later in the tournament. He also reached a century in 52 balls against Australia at the same venue.
With three entries, the 2026 tournament now has the most fastest hundreds in a single T20 World Cup edition. Allen, Brook and Nissanka have all produced explosive knocks.
Allen’s innings, however, stands far above the rest. His 33-ball hundred not only set a new record but also pushed the benchmark for aggressive batting in the tournament.
As T20 cricket continues to evolve, such records may face new challenges. For now, Finn Allen’s explosive knock in Kolkata sits comfortably at the top of the fastest centuries in T20 World Cup history.