Finn Allen emerged New Zealand's hero as his sensational unbeaten century demolished 2024 runners-up South Africa by nine wickets in a memorable T20 World Cup semi-final at Eden Gardens.

You can read all about it in Elizabeth Botcherby's match report here.

Thank you for joining us today - we’ll be back tomorrow as England take on holders India, the other semi‑final that will decide who takes on the Black Caps in Sunday's showpiece. See you!

We will back live tomorrow for the second semi-final of this T20 World Cup.

Co-hosts and defending champions India are England's opponents in tomorrow's last-four clash at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

And we will go live from 13:00 GMT with the first ball scheduled for 13:30.

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New Zealand captain Mitch Santner: "It was nice. We knew how good South Africa are and they've shown it throughout this tournament. To get a good performance like that against them is pleasing.

"Every time you lose a game, you are learning from it. We weren't as good as we could have been in defeat [to South Africa] in the group stage. But today was about trying to chop and change during bowling because the wicket was good. It was a short ground with fast outfield."

On Tim Seifert and Finn Allen: "It was nice to watch, not gonna lie! We were very happy with 170 but you never know. They just went out there and played in their style. If you get through the powerplay without a wicket down, it gets you in a good position. 33 balls for a 100 is not bad.

On the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday: "It's a different ground. We have been there before. There is al lot of different factors that go in. We are happy with the win tonight and got a couple of days to think about what happens next.

"It's a good performance. We hadn't played a perfect game before but we were good all the way though today."

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South Africa captain Aiden Markram: "You look at conditions, they bowled well up front. They made scoring tough and credit to the bowling unit. You won't come out the right side many times as the fielding team."

On planning: "To get to 170 was a great effort and we felt we had a sniff. But as it goes in T20 cricket, the powerplay got off to a flyer and it was hard to pull back. You give credit to their openers to kill the game like they did. A bad night for us tonight."

On moving forward: "We will reflect as a group and we needed to adapt with the bat. We are disappointed but we are proud of this group of guys and it is just a tough evening.

"We will let the emotion settle and then you have to break down the game. We have to get back on the horse and prepare for the future. It feels like a slap in the face and we need to be better as a team."

What a way to win a T20 World Cup semi-final.

Finn Allen not only handed New Zealand the nine-wicket win that sent them through to the final but also brought up his century from 33 balls in the 13th over.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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The key is to not peak at the wrong time. That is what has happened to South Africa.

New Zealand played extremely well and laid their marker down. They have a really good flow and that puts them in a good position for the final.

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New Zealand batter and Player of the Match Finn Allen: "That is up there with the best. I wanted to put a good performance in for the team."

On the planning and wicket: "We wanted to start straight and get them on the back foot early. When Tim [Tim Seifert] is going like that, I can just give him the strike and contribute when I need.

"It is easy in a semi-final to stay up for the fight and we keep each other looking straight. You have to adapt to the wicket and training is important."

On the final: "You take the positives and celebrate the success. We have a final to win on Sunday and we look forward to that."

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Finn Allen's 33-ball 100 is the fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history.

It obliterates the previous mark of West Indies' Chris Gayle, who needed 47 balls for his against England in 2016

Gayle also has the third fastest ton in the tournament - against South Africa in 2007 from 50 balls.

We will bring you what the New Zealand batter had to say after that incredible innings shortly.

South Africa might have thought they had a chance after giving New Zealand a 170-run target in the semi-final in Kolkata.

But the Black Caps have made it look like a cakewalk.

They had Tim Seifert to thank for a fast start as the New Zealand opener hit a 33-ball 58.

But Seifert's innings has been completely eclipsed by his opening partner Finn Allen, who struck a rapid century off the same number of balls to take South Africa past the line with 43 balls to spare!

Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That is some quite ridiculous batting. They looked so fluent.

South Africa will reflect but they have just been in the face of some outstanding cricket.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

A thoroughly deserved win today for New Zealand. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen both came out and killed the chase completely.

New Zealand defeat South Africa by nine wickets to reach finalpublished at 12.5 overs

12.5 oversBreaking

NZ 173-1

Finn Allen wins the semi-final in style for New Zealand.

He launches Marco Jansen over mid-off to reach his 100 in just 33 balls and guide the Black Caps to the final.

One of India or England will face them in the title clash on Sunday but New Zealand will believe they have what it takes to beat either - especially after that onslaught.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

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An astounding displaying of batting from New Zealand. They have pummelled South Africa.

They are going to be a threat to anyone in the final.

NZ 169-1published at 12.4 overs

12.4 overs

1 needed off 44 balls

Another six from Finn Allen ties the score.

New Zealand need one run to win and Allen needs a four to get to his 100!

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This is brilliant hitting, to be able to do this in a semi-final.

Finn Allen is creating an innings for history. He is destroying South Africa.

NZ 163-1published at 12.3 overs

12.3 overs

7 needed off 45 balls

After back-to-back fours in the first two balls of the over, Finn Allen launches one over deep square leg for six as New Zealand are racing to a victory here.

Keshav Maharaj's latest over goes for 12 runs.

New Zealand are just 21 runs away from a place in the final.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

The beauty of knockout T20 cricket is that you have to play when it matters. South Africa have not been in this game at all.

NZ 148-1published at 11.5 overs

11.5 overs

22 needed off 49 balls

Finn Allen is not letting the cramp bog him down here.

The New Zealand batter threads a boundary behind square before pounding Keshav Maharaj for a six over long-on.