Chennai, 10 February (Sports Desk)
New Zealand defeated United Arab Emirates by 10 wickets in Match 11 of Group D at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, played on February 10, 2026, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India.
This was New Zealand’s second dominant win of the tournament (following their victory over Afghanistan), showcasing ruthless batting as they chased down the target with 28 balls to spare. The openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert produced a record-breaking unbroken partnership, marking one of the most clinical chases in T20 World Cup history.
Match Summary
- UAE won the toss and elected to bat first.
- United Arab Emirates posted a competitive 173/6 in 20 overs.
- New Zealand chased it down effortlessly, reaching 175/0 in 15.2 overs.
- Result: New Zealand won by 10 wickets.
- Player of the Match: Tim Seifert (New Zealand) — for his explosive unbeaten 89 off 42 balls, anchoring the record chase with aggressive strokeplay and multiple sixes.
UAE Innings (173/6 in 20 overs)
UAE put up a fighting total thanks to solid contributions from their top order on a good batting pitch.
- Muhammad Waseem (c): 50+ — anchored with a captain’s knock.
- Alishan Sharafu: 50+ — formed key partnerships.
- Late boosts from lower order helped reach a defendable score.
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New Zealand’s bowlers kept it tight:
- Mitchell Santner (c): Key wickets, including Sharafu.
- Glenn Phillips: Dismissed Harshit Kaushik.
- Overall, disciplined bowling restricted UAE despite some late hitting.
New Zealand Innings (175/0 in 15.2 overs)
The chase was utterly one-sided, with openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert dismantling the UAE attack from the start.
- Tim Seifert (wk): 89* off 42 balls (blistering knock with numerous fours and sixes; reached fifty in 23 balls; smashed boundaries at will).
- Finn Allen: 84* or 83* (sources vary slightly, but aggressive half-century; quick fifties from both openers).
Their unbroken opening stand of 175 runs broke the record for the highest partnership in Men’s T20 World Cup history (for any wicket). They tore into the bowling with clean hitting, especially in the powerplay, making light of the 174-run target.
UAE bowlers (including Muhammad Rohid Khan, Haider Ali, Muhammad Arfan) went for plenty but couldn’t break the stand.
Key Highlights
- Record-breaking opening stand: Seifert and Allen’s 175* is the highest partnership ever in T20 World Cups, surpassing previous records with fearless six-hitting and boundary scoring.
- Seifert’s masterclass: His unbeaten 89* (with rapid fifty) earned him POTM for single-handedly powering the chase and setting the tone with aggressive intent.
- New Zealand’s batting dominance: No wickets lost, plenty of balls remaining — a statement win boosting their Super 8 prospects.
- UAE showed fight with the bat but were outclassed in the field and with the ball.
