Lancashire sign Finn Allen for T20 Blast

The 21-year old struck 512 runs for Wellington Firebirds as they won the 2020/21 Super Smash and was recently recruited by Royal Challengers Bangalore for the IPL

County cricket squad updates

Lancashire have signed New Zealander Finn Allen for the 2021 T20 Blast.

The 21-year old burst into the spotlight during this season’s Super Smash, scoring a competition-leading 512 runs in 11 appearances as Wellington Firebirds won the title.

Allen, who was called up to the New Zealand squad for their recent white-ball series against Australia, averaged 56.88 in the domestic T20 tournament, hitting the ball at a strike rate of 193.93 and scoring six half-centuries.

The young batsman has also caught the attention of Royal Challengers Bangalore, who recruited him for the 2021 Indian Premier League as a replacement for Josh Philippe.

Commenting on his Lancashire contract, Allen said: "I’m really excited to get over to England, it will be my first spell in county cricket and a great opportunity test myself in one of the world’s best T20 tournaments.

"To win the Super Smash, and finish as leading run scorer in my breakthrough T20 tournament, has provided me with a platform and I am now looking forward to continuing to learn and improve as a cricketer.

"Lancashire is a huge club with a proud history and I absolutely can’t wait to play at Emirates Old Trafford throughout the Vitality Blast competition. They’ve got a very talented, young and exciting squad so I’m really looking forward to joining up with the group later this year to hopefully challenge for the title."

Finn Allen joins Royal Challengers Bangalore as Josh Philippe replacement

Meanwhile, Lancashire’s director of cricket, Paul Allott, said: "Finn is an extremely highly rated young cricketer, and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring him to Lancashire Cricket.

"His outstanding record in the recent Super Smash tournament caught attention around the world and I am looking forward to seeing how Finn can contribute to helping Lancashire win matches in the Vitality Blast.

"I believe that this is a signing which will excite supporters and improve what is already a very strong T20 outfit, as shown in last year’s campaign."

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