New Zealand opener Finn Allen praised his team’s bowlers for early breakthroughs that set up their T20 World Cup semifinal win over South Africa at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Allen said restricting South Africa to a manageable total proved decisive before he and Tim Seifert built a key partnership during the chase.

Kolkata: New Zealand opener Finn Allen praised his team’s bowlers for setting up a commanding victory in the T20 World Cup semifinal, saying their early breakthroughs laid the foundation for a memorable performance in a high-pressure knockout match.

Allen, who played a sensational innings at the top of the order, said the bowlers were instrumental in establishing control from the start.

“First of all, it was an extremely impressive start from our bowlers,” he said after the match. “They set the game up for us. Taking early wickets against a strong batting lineup like South Africa’s was crucial.”

The New Zealand attack struck early and never allowed South Africa to build momentum, restricting them to a manageable total. Allen credited the team’s preparation, particularly the recent series against India, for helping the players adapt quickly to the conditions.