New Zealand reached its second men’s T20 World Cup final with a victory so complete that, for all the intrigue of the first half, the chase carried scarcely a tremor of uncertainty. Pursuing 170 at Eden Gardens on Wednesday, the Black Caps swept past the Proteas by nine wickets with 43 balls to spare.

For long stretches earlier, the South African total of 169 for eight had the look of something modest. Much had to be owed to New Zealand’s reading of the surface and the match-ups. The pitch was slower than the one used for the India-West Indies Super Eight game, the ball gripping and refusing to arrive cleanly to the bat. Mitchell Santner recognised it early.

Allen has a stroll in the garden as Kiwis reach final

New Zealand secures a dominant T20 World Cup final spot, led by Finn Allen’s explosive century against South Africa.