KKR's Rs 2 crore new Kiwi recruit slams maiden BBL century ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

New Zealand opener Finn Allen wreaked havoc at Docklands Stadium, Melbourne as he scored his maiden Big Bash League (BBL) century. Opening for Perth Scorchers against Melbourne Renegades, he scored 101 runs from 53 balls.

This was Allen’s fifth century of T20 career. Allen became the sixth Perth Scorchers batter to score a century. He joined the elite list featuring Mitchell Marsh, Craig Simmons, Colin Munro and Michael Klinger.

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Allen gets off to good start

Allen got starts in last few games but could not convert them into big scores. On January 15, he faced four dot deliveries from Hassan Khan before getting off the mark with a six. Allen and Marsh put up 55 runs in the powerplay overs. In the seventh over, he got a reprieve as Gurinder Sandhu dropped his catch at extra cover off skipper Will Sutherland's bowling. He was batting on 37 then.

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Marsh departed in the next over for a 15-ball 20. Allen accelerated and got to his half-century from 34 balls. In the 11th over, he made Sandhu regret the dropped catch, smashing him for three consecutive humongous sixes. On the other end, Cooper Connolly departed for a 12-ball 18 cameo.

Allen races to his century, Perth Scorchers post big total

In the 13th over, the Kiwi batter hit Hassan for two sixes and a four to get closer to the three figures. After Aaron Hardie's 11-ball 22 cameo, Allen reached his century from 51 balls in the 15th over. In the next over, Ashton Turner fell for a six-ball 13. Adam Zampa, in his last over, got the wicket of Allen. He went for the aerial shot again but was caught at long-on by Jake Fraser-McGurk. He hit eight sixes and five fours in his 53-ball 101. In the last few overs, Laurie Evans contributed with an 11-ball 21, helping Perth Scorchers post 219/7.

Allen picked by KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) roped in Allen for his base price of Rs 2 crore. The 26-year-old is yet to make his IPL debut. Earlier, he was part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2022 and 2023 editions but did not get a game.

Allen set for T20 World Cup 2026

Allen has been rested for the five-T20I series against India, starting on January 22. However, he has been picked ahead of Tim Robinson in New Zealand's T20 World Cup 2026 squad.