Can fizzy Finn Allen drive New Zealand to ever-elusive World Cup glory?

Allen’s cameo, which took the world by storm, set the platform to turn the tide this time for the Kiwis, followed by Devon Conway’s unbeaten 58-ball 92 that helped them pile 200/3 batting first. Their bowlers did the rest, skittling the mighty Aussies for 111 in 17.1 overs in their own backyard to register an 89-run win to finally enjoy that winning feeling on their 16th attempt.

However, Allen’s international career began in the worst possible manner in March last year – a golden duck against Bangladesh in Hamilton. But he has been batting aggressively with sheer audacity ever since, following in the footsteps of his ‘idol’ Kevin Pietersen. His 511 T20I runs from 19 innings might not raise a lot of eyebrows but when a batsman showcases a strike rate of 166.99, you certainly have to sit up and take notice.

Moreover, Allen’s blistering knocks allow the other Kiwi batters to play with more freedom rather than keep falling to the pressure of the scorecard. For example, anchor Williamson scored a run-a-ball 23 against Australia before returning to the pavilion, yet they managed to touch the 200-run mark. With all due respect to Williamson, would they have reached there had Allen not provided with such a fluent start?

Guptill’s strike rate (120.93) in the last World Cup did not match his lofty standards, and perhaps that was the reason that New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had a decision on their hands. Going back to before the Pandemic, Guptill shattered a billion hearts by running out MS Dhoni with a lightning-quick throw but his record was sub-par. The 36-year-old aggregated a maegre 186 runs from 10 innings, averaging a low 20.66. NZC’s bold move of dropping Guptill – the third-highest all-time T20I run-getters – in the tournament opener paid off as the runner-ups from 2021 took control of Group 1.

Now only time will tell whether Allen can manage to live up to the expectations and continue fireworks but there is no denying that the 23-year-old has brought a missing flavour to his side which they lacked in Guptill in the past two World Cups. Ever since its invention in 1975, they have failed to lift the trophy in 19 attempts (12 in ODIs and seven in T20Is) despite coming all too close on a few occasions. They finished as runner-ups thrice in the last four showpiece events, but it felt like ‘so close yet so far’.  However, if Allen’s range of strokes remains intact for the rest of the tournament, New Zealand, with the potent bowling attack they have got among others, have the serious opportunity to make things happen this time.