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Blackcaps blaster Allen slams another whirlwind Big Bash century
Shayne Hope, AAP • January 16th, 2026 8:09 am
Finn Allen | Photo: AAP
Kiwi Finn Allen has smashed a masterful first BBL century as the Perth Scorchers punched their finals ticket with a commanding 50-run win over the Melbourne Renegades.
The Scorchers were sent in to bat on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium, where chasing teams had won 14 of the previous 16 matches.
Opener Allen relished the challenge, thumping 101 from 53 balls to help the Scorchers post a massive 7-219 - just four runs shy of the highest-ever total at the Docklands venue.
Jake Fraser-McGurk gave the Renegades a brief burst of life in the chase with five sixes in his quickfire 42 off 18, and Tim Seifert kept the flame flickering with 66 off 43.
But the victory target always looked beyond their reach as the home side managed 7-169.
Finn Allen in action | Photo: AAP
Allen brought up his first BBL century - his fifth in T20 cricket - off just 51 balls before he eventually holed out to long-on off Adam Zampa.
It was the second-fastest century in Scorchers franchise history, with the second 50 runs coming in just 17 deliveries.
"It was nice," Allen told AAP.
"It was pretty tough early on and I tried to get rogue on it a little bit.
"The wicket was doing a touch, then I just tried to push on and create a competitive score from us."
Allen smashed eight sixes and five fours in his match-winning knock.
The powerful right-hander was given two lifelines, first dropped on eight by Harry Dixon on the boundary off Gurinder Sandhu's bowling.
He was on 37 not out when he hit the Marvel Stadium roof with a huge strike off Will Sutherland - resulting in a dead ball - and was dropped by Sandhu at cover next ball.
It was a difficult chance, with Allen's shot cracked low at Sandhu with incredible power.
Allen showed no mercy to Sandhu, smashing the right-arm quick for three consecutive sixes to kick off the power surge, with the Scorchers taking 34 runs from it for the loss of one wicket.
One of the blows sent the ball flying over long-on, up into the second tier of the grandstand.
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"I don't actually know how big they were, but (I've got) good bats," Allen said.
Sam Elliott, who took 4-28 from three overs, was the best of the Renegades' bowlers, with legspinner Zampa (1-31, four) the tightest.
Allen had a scare when his troublesome hamstring cramped, and he didn't take to the field for the second innings.
Mitch Marsh also sat out after a ball hit him on the heel, but is expected to be fit to play when the Scorchers (6-3) host the Melbourne Stars (6-3) on Saturday in what is effectively a playoff for a top-two spot.
Renegades batter Dixon was hit in the neck by a bouncer from Scorchers quick Mahli Beardman and was alert afterwards, but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The pair were Australian teammates in the 2024 Under-19 World Cup win.
Before the first ball, former Scorchers star and current Renegades squad member AJ Tye announced his BBL retirement.
The 39-year-old will take up a two-year deal with Yorkshire as a local player, qualifying through his English parents.
Tye, a four-time title winner with the Scorchers, leaves the BBL as the competition's second-highest wicket-taker with 162 dismissals and an economy rate of 7.99 over 119 matches.
