Finn Allen breaks Abhishek Sharma's record for fastest to 5,000 T20 runs: Know the difference here

An in-form New Zealand opener Finn Allen on February 10 achieve a major feat with his unbeaten 84 against UAE in the run chase of 174 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Allen broke India opener Abhishek Sharma’s record for fastest to 5,000 T20 runs (T20Is, franchises T20s and domestic T20s) in terms of balls taken.

Allen took 2,854 deliveries to reach the milestone, 44 less than that of Abhishek's. The Indian opener could not hold on to the record for a long time. He achieved it against New Zealand more than a couple of weeks ago. Before Abhishek, the record belonged to former West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell who took 2,942 balls to score 5,000 T20 runs.

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Allen has 5,046 runs from 175 T20s at an average of 30.39 and strike rate of 175.02. He has five centuries and 33 fifties in the format.

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Allen, Seifert break all-time T20 World Cup record

Against UAE, he scored 84 runs from 50 balls, featuring five fours and as many sixes. He shared an unbeaten 175-run opening partnership with Tim Seifert from 15.2 overs. Seifert scored 89 runs from 42 balls, including 12 fours and three sixes.

The Kiwi duo broke the record for highest partnership for any wicket in Men's T20 World Cup history. The previous record belonged to Jos Buttler and Alex Hales. The English openers shared an unbeaten 170-run partnership against India in T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal.

It is also New Zealand’s second-highest partnership for any wicket. The record belongs to Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips who shared an 184-run stand against West Indies in 2020.

Allen, Seifert in elite company

In addition, both Allen and Seifert completed 100 sixes in T20Is. They joined the elite list of Kiwi batters — Martin Guptill (173 sixes), Colin Munro (107 sixes) and Glenn Phillips (101 sixes).

The win against UAE helped the Mitchell Santner-led side climb to the top of the points table. Their next clash is against Aiden Markram's South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on February 14.