Published on: Mar 5, 2026 5:35 pm IST|Updated on: Mar 5, 2026 8:12 pm IST
They say records are meant to be broken, and cricket is a game that has witnessed records being shattered in different eras. One of the records that took a toll was witnessed last night when New Zealand opener Finn Allen etched his name in the history books by registering the fastest T20 World Cup century in history. On his course of a whirlwind unbeaten 100 off 33 deliveries in the semifinal of ICC T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa, Allen went past Chris Gayle’s 47-ball 100 against England in the 2016 edition. From Finn Allen to Chris Gayle, in this post, we will be discussing the top Five fastest centuries in the history of the T20 World Cup.
The Blackcaps opener made a mockery of South African bowling lineup last night at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a crunch game such as a T20 World Cup semifinal, Allen put on display a whirlwind knock that completely blew away South Africa and their aspirations to enter their second semifinal on the bounce.
Chasing a formidable target of 170 runs, Allen blasted a 19-ball 50, launching an assault right from the word ‘go.’ Allen was far from done with a half-century, as in the next 14 balls he completed his first-ever T20 World Cup ton and etched his name in history books. His aggressive knock left the capacity crowd at Eden Gardens awestruck, and cricket pundits echoed the same sentiment after watching Allen blast his way to a blazing hundred.
Taking the second place in this list is the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle. During the 2016 T20 World Cup in India, Gayle unleashed a magnificent 47-ball ton against England at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. His swashbuckling knock included 11 fours and 5 mammoth sixes, which tore apart the English bowling attack.
Chasing a challenging 183, Gayle carried his bat throughout the game, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 48 deliveries and ensured his team was on the right side of the finishing line. This knock came in 2016, and it took nearly 10 years and 4 editions of T20 World Cup for Finn Allen to climb Mount Rushmore.
Who can forget the first-ever T20 World Cup game in the history of the tournament? It was the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, with West Indies and host South Africa locking horns in a legendary clash at Johannesburg. Riding on Chris Gayle’s emphatic 117 off 57 balls, with the century being completed in just 50 deliveries, West Indies posted a massive 205 for the loss of 6 wickets to put his side in the driver’s seat.
However, Herschelle Gibbs had different ideas. The veteran right-hander scored an unbeaten 90 off 55 deliveries to guide his side home with 6 wickets in hand and as many as 14 balls to spare. Although Gibbs’ knock helped South Africa start their tournament campaign on a winning note, it was Gayle’s ton that redefined T20I cricket and put the tournament on the map.
A T20I ton in a chase is always special, and Harry Brook is known for doing special stuff. The English skipper scored a magnificent 50-ball 100 to guide his team over the line while chasing a formidable 167 on Pallekele’s tough wicket against Pakistan. With wickets falling around him, Brook displayed unbelievable composure and orchestrated his knock according to the match situation.
When Brook got out on the 51st ball of his innings, the damage was already done. He ensured his team was only a step away from victory and making it to the semifinal. Brook’s masterclass in Pallekele also earned him the right to become the first-ever captain to score a ton in a T20 World Cup game.
Brendon McCullum is one of the most fearsome batters New Zealand cricket has ever produced. Who can forget that night when he completely tarnished RCB’s bowling attack in the opening game of the inaugural IPL season in 2008, playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders with a century for the ages. Something similar happened in Pallekele in 2012 when McCullum scored a ravishing 51-ball ton against Bangladesh to see his team home.
Batting at no. 3, McCullum raced away to his ton in just 51 deliveries and eventually finished with a 58-ball 123. His swashbuckling knock included 11 scintillating fours and 7 gigantic sixes that helped the team finish at 191 for the loss of 3 wickets after the end of 20 overs. At the end, New Zealand ended up winning the game and McCullum deservingly secured the man of the match award.
Tags: T20 World Cup 2026