New Zealand continued their impressive run at the T20 World Cup as they scored a 10-wicket win over UAE in Chennai on Tuesday.
UAE captain Muhammad Waseem won the toss and elected to bat first. Playing their first match of the World Cup, UAE put up a spirited show with the bat, finishing at 173/6. Despite losing losing Aryansh Sharma early, UAE motored to 50/1 in powerplay as captain Waseem and Alishan Sharafu relieved the pressure with some big hits.
They put on 107, which is the second-highest second-wicket partnership for the UAE in T20Is. The Kerala-born Sharafu scored 55 off just 47 balls, with the help of five fours and two sixes.
New Zealand pegged them back with two quick wickets. Captain Mitchell Santner dismissed Sharafu while Glenn Phillips sent back Harshit Kaushik within the space of 10 balls and five runs, reducing UAE to 124 for 3.
Despite the setback, Waseem continued to plunder runs. The UAE captain carried the bat through for an unbeaten 66 off 45 balls, slamming four fours and three sixes during the innings. Mayank Kumar also chipped in with a cameo of 21.
Matt Henry snapped two wickets off the last two balls of the innings, while Jacob Duffy, Santner, Lockie Ferguson and Phillips claimed a wicket apiece.
Unbeaten in Chennai in any format since 2011, New Zealand flexed their muscle in the chase. They hit fifth gear in the second over, and were relentless in pursuit. With Tim Seifert and Finn Allen in punishing mood, New Zealand put on 78/0 in the first six overs, including 20 in the sixth over. It was just the start the Kiwis needed to thwart any hopes of an upset for the UAE.
Seifert brought up his 50 in 23 balls, making it the second-fastest century of the World Cup so far. There was no reprieve at the other end for UAE, as Allen continued to stand and deliver, racing to 50 in 27 balls.
While Seifert finished unbeaten on 89 (42 balls, 12 fours, three sixes), Allen was not out on 84 (50 balls, five fours and five sixes) as New Zealand romped to 175/0 in 15.2 overs. Fittingly, Seifert brought up victory with a six after dancing down the pitch. The 175-run stand between Seifert and Allen was the highest partnership for any wicket in men’s T20 World Cup history.
It was New Zealand’s second successive win at the T20 World Cup 2026 and saw them climb atop Group D standings.
“Great start. We are playing how we want to play. Me and Allen putting pressure on the bowlers. We just want to adapt. Every ground is different; you just need to adapt. The surface is very good. In the first innings, it was holding a little, but overall a great wicket. It is T20 cricket, you don’t always get going but the main thing is how you adapt. Finn batted very well,” said Player of the Match Seifert.
“We were short by 15-20 runs, but we also need to step up as a bowling team. Surface was very good. We have to look after the bowling and our variations. We need to execute our plans. We need to do that. We will think of the next game. This is past for us now. We will take the few positives with the bat,” said UAE captain Waseem.
Brief scores: UAE 173/6 in 20 overs (Muhammad Waseem 66 not out, Alishan Sharafu 55, Mayank Kumar 21; Matt Henry 2/37) lost to New Zealand 175/0 in 15.2 overs (Time Seifert 89 not out, Finn Allen 84 not out).
