Finn Allen smashed several batting records with a century against South Africa in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semi-final. The New Zealand opener overtook Chris Gayle’s decade-old record to set the fastest individual century in T20 World Cup history.
After Allen’s explosive innings in Kolkata, here are five of the fastest centuries in T20 World Cups, ranked by balls faced.
Former New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum scored a 51-ball century against Bangladesh in match five of the 2012 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Batting at number three at Pallekele Stadium, he made 123 runs off 58 balls, hitting 11 boundaries and seven sixes.
5. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 51 balls vs Bangladesh, Pallekele, 2012
McCullum’s innings helped New Zealand reach 191-3 in 20 overs. The rest of the team added just 68 runs from 62 balls.
In England’s Super 8 game against Pakistan at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, captain Harry Brook starred. He scored a blazing century. He reached it in just 50 balls.
4. Harry Brook (England) – 50 balls vs Pakistan, Pallekele, 2026
Brook hit 10 boundaries and four sixes. He became the first T20 World Cup captain to score a century. His innings marked his career-best in T20Is and led England to a thrilling two-wicket win.
3. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 50 balls vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2007
The West Indies colossus lit up the opening match of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 with a scintillating 117 off just 57 deliveries. Batting first against host South Africa at the iconic Johannesburg ground, the T20 juggernaut scored his century off just 50 deliveries and became the first T20I player to reach triple figures.
Chris Gayle and Devon Smith added 145 runs for the opening partnership. Their effort helped West Indies reach 205/6 in 20 overs. Despite Gayle’s heroics, West Indies lost the T20 World Cup curtain-raiser. South Africa, led by Herschelle Gibbs, secured the win.
2. 47 balls – Chris Gayle (West Indies) vs England, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2016
During the early stages of the 2016 T20 World Cup, West Indies opener Chris Gayle set a record as only the second player in the tournament’s history to score two centuries. He dominated English bowlers at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in March 2016, almost a decade after hitting his century in Johannesburg.
Chris Gayle scored a 47-ball century and remained unbeaten on 100* off 48 balls as West Indies comfortably chased 183 and won the match by six wickets.
33 balls – Finn Allen (New Zealand) vs South Africa, Kolkata, 2026, Tonight*
Facing off against undefeated opponents in the first semifinal of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, New Zealand opening batsman Finn Allen hit a 33-ball ton as his side chased 170 runs for a place in the final against South Africa. The aggressive right-handed batter put together a 117-run opening stand with half-century maker Tim Seifert.
Finn Allen reached his half-century in just 19 balls. He then needed only 14 more balls to reach a century. The 26-year-old hit eight sixes and 10 fours during his explosive innings. One of his big shots helped New Zealand beat South Africa in just 12.5 overs.
During the innings, Allen also broke a decade-old record set by Chris Gayle. He reached his century 14 balls faster than Gayle. This made it the fastest century in T20 World Cup history by a huge margin.