SCO vs NZ: Finn Allen smashes his maiden international century in 1st T20I

Finn Allen smashed his first ever international century as New Zealand scored 225 runs in the first T20I match against Scotland while batting first at The Grange Cricket Club Ground. He also scored his first ODI fifty this month in the second match against Ireland after making his debut in the previous match. Allen is showing great potential to replace ageing Colin Munro and Martin Guptill in the near future.

The 23-year-old right-handed batter scored 101 runs off just 56 balls with the help of eight fours and six sixes at a strike rate of 180.36. He added 85 runs with Guptill for the first wicket as the latter was caught out on 40 runs. Jimmy Neesham smashed 30 runs off just nine balls and Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 23 runs to guide the Kiwis to a big total.

Meanwhile, Allen became only the fifth New Zealand cricketer to smash a T20I hundred after Brendon McCullum, Colin Munro, Martin Guptill, and Glenn Phillips. The youngster has scored 1777 runs in domestic cricket leagues and tournaments at an impressive strike rate of 175.07 so far. He was bought up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for INR 80 lakh in the Indian Premier League 2022 mega auction but failed to make any appearance.

Scotland respond strongly but New Zealand are closing on a big win

Coming to the contest, the New Zealand camp seemed delighted after putting a 226-run target for Scotland, the 15th ranked team in the ICC T20I charts. But to everyone’s surprise, the hosts started positively to chase the mountain in the second innings. Openers George Munsey and Calum MacLeod formed a 62-run partnership for the first wicket in just 8.1 overs. The in-form spinner Ish Sodhi gave New Zealand the opening they needed as he removed Munsey for 28 runs.

Sodhi then dismissed Ollie Hairs in the same over to put New Zealand ahead in the game. Skipper Mitchell Santner took MacLeod’s wicket who played an excellent knock of 33 runs off just 24 balls. Sodhi then bowled out Scottish skipper Richie Berrington on his next delivery but missed a chance to take a hat-trick. Right-arm pacer Ben Sears dismissed Matthew Cross to reduce Scotland to 88/5 in 12.1 overs.