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Boucher Hails Allen's Special Range and Clean Hitting in IPL

Mark Boucher praised Finn Allen's extraordinary unbeaten century for KKR, emphasizing his unique range and clean hitting. Allen scored 100 off 47 balls, including 73 off 31 against spin, to lead KKR to an eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals. Boucher said Allen's effortless striking, like pick-up shots against Mitchell Starc, made him special. Piyush Chawla noted Allen's use of the crease and the spinners' failure to bowl consistent lengths.

Key Points: Boucher Praises Finn Allen's Special Hitting Range

  • Allen scores maiden IPL century off 47 balls
  • Boucher praises his range and clean hitting
  • Allen lethal against spin with 73 off 31 balls
  • KKR win eighth-wicket victory with 34 balls left
3 min read

Allen's range and cleanliness of his hitting make him special: Boucher

Mark Boucher lauds Finn Allen's unbeaten IPL century for KKR, highlighting his range, cleanliness, and effortless power against Delhi Capitals.

"What makes him special is not just the strength, but the range and cleanliness of his hitting. - Mark Boucher"

New Delhi, May 9

Former South African cricketer and coach Mark Boucher has lauded Kolkata Knight Riders opener Finn Allen's extraordinary century against Delhi Capitals and said it's not just the 27-year-old batter's strength but also his range and cleanliness in hitting a shot that make him special.

Allen showcased his fireworks at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, scored 20 off his first 17 balls before unleashing an 80-run burst off his next 30 deliveries to complete his maiden IPL century in 47 balls, stitching an unbeaten 116-run partnership off just 64 deliveries with Camwron Green as KKR jumped to the seventh spot on the points table to keep their qualification hopes alive with a dominant eight-wicket win.

"Once Finn Allen gets past 20 or 30, there are very few players in world cricket who strike the ball with the kind of power he does. What makes him special is not just the strength, but the range and cleanliness of his hitting. Whether it was the pick-up shot over fine leg against Mitchell Starc or the straight hits back over the bowler's head, everything looked effortless.

"Anything in his arc or under his eyeline, he was striking beautifully. At one stage, it almost looked like he was batting against a bowling machine. It was an incredible innings to watch," Boucher said on JioStar.

Allen was particularly lethal against spin, posting a strike rate of 235 via scoring 73 off 31 balls as KKR got their fourth straight win of IPL 2026. Former India spinner Piyush Chawla reflected on his approach against spin, saying once a player of Allen's quality gets into rhythm, it becomes extremely difficult to contain him.

"This was probably the toughest surface Finn Allen has batted on in the tournament, but what stood out was how well he used the crease. Against anything short, he went deep in the crease, and whenever the ball was in his zone, he capitalised immediately. His reach also allows him to access different areas of the ground comfortably.

"Having said that, the spinners didn't consistently bowl the right lengths to trouble him and ended up offering too many scoring opportunities. Once a player of his quality gets into rhythm, he becomes extremely difficult to contain, and this innings showed exactly why he's rated so highly in T20 cricket," said Chawla.

Allen was the undisputed Player of the Match. On a pitch where almost every other batter struggled for timing, Allen's explosive 100 not out completely demoralised the opposition and single-handedly finished the game with 34 deliveries to spare.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
What an incredible knock! 73 runs off 31 balls against spin is just insane. But honestly, I think the spinners let him off too easily. If they had bowled consistently outside his arc or used more variations, this might have been a different story. Still, you have to admire his clean striking – he made it look like a practice session!
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Vikram M
Boucher comparing him to batting against a bowling machine says it all. Allen's range is unreal – from fine leg pick-ups to straight drives over the bowler's head, he has every shot in the book. KKR's top order finally clicking at the right time! Let's hope they can carry this momentum forward. 🤞
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James A
As someone who follows international cricket, I have to say Allen's talent is no flash in the pan. The way he uses the crease against spin – going deep for short balls – is a lesson for every young batter. But credit to Chawla for pointing out the bowlers' flaws. If you don't pitch it consistently, players like Allen will destroy you.
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Siddharth J
That 80-run burst off 30 balls was just brutal! KKR fans must be on cloud nine after this chase. But I also feel for the DC bowlers – on a pitch where others struggled, Allen made it look like a flat track. It's scary how quickly he can change a game. IPL 2026 is getting interesting with KKR finding form! 🚀
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Nikhil C
Boucher's words carry weight, but I think we need to see more consistency from Allen. One brilliant innings doesn't make him

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