Finn Allen hits 16 sixes in outrageous record-breaking knock

The Black Caps have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match T20 series against Pakistan on the back of an incredible display of hitting by Finn Allen.

Allen played one of the most breathtaking knocks ever seen in T20 cricket in Dunedin this afternoon, pummelling Pakistan for a world record-equalling 16 sixes on his way to 137.

Allen was completely unstoppable as he launched six after six into, and sometimes even over the crowd at the University of Otago Oval, as he surpassed Brendon McCullum for the highest score by a New Zealander in T20 international cricket.

Haris Rauf bore the brunt of Allen's brutality, conceding back-to-back overs of 28 and 23 as he watched Allen launch him over the rope six times.

Allen got to his second T20 international hundred in the 13th over, bringing up three figures in just 48 balls. When he was finally dismissed in the 18th over, he had made 137 off 62 and equalled Afghanistan's Hazratullah Zazai for the most sixes in a T20 international innings.

The jaw-dropping knock led New Zealand to 224/7 from their 20 overs, leaving Pakistan with another tough chase.

For the third straight game, it proved to be too much to ask, as Pakistan could only muster 179/7.

Star batsman Babar Azam again proved to be the only form of resistance to New Zealand's bowlers, top scoring with 58, his third consecutive half-century in the series.

But he failed to get enough support from his teammates, as the Black Caps continued to apply pressure and take wickets that only saw the required run rate soar.

When Azam holed out to long on, the game was essentially over, with Pakistan still requiring 91 off 25 balls and only having four wickets in hand.

Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi threw their bats near the end of the innings, but it was never going to be enough, as Pakistan fell short by 45 runs.

An obvious man of the match, Allen said his innings all came down to how he set up in his stance before each ball.

"What I’ve been working on is trying to have a solid foundation, solid base and kind of build from there, hit the ball where it’s supposed to go," Allen said after the game.

"Picking my moments when to go and picking bowlers too but I think for me playing the ball on its merits and hitting it where it’s supposed to go is what I’ve been trying to do."

Stand-in captain Mitchell Santner praised Allen's knock and said securing a series win over Pakistan was "massive" for his side.

"Pakistan are a very good team and they’ve shown that when they’ve come here and when we’ve played them anywhere really.

"It was obviously set up by the big guy Finn Allen. The way he constructed his innings – we talk about him being destructive for as long as he can – and he did it for a long time today."

The two teams will now travel to Christchurch for the final two games on Friday and Sunday.

Black Caps 224/7 Allen 137 (62), Seifert 31 (23). Rauf 2-60 (4), Wasim 1-35 (4).

Pakistan 179/7 Azam 58 (37), Nawaz 28 (15). Southee 2-29 (4), Santner 1-26 (4).

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