CHENNAI: New Zealand delivered a commanding performance at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, thrashing the United Arab Emirates by 10 wickets to secure their second consecutive victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
UAE post competitive total after strong start
Opting to bat first, the UAE innings was built around a solid 107-run partnership between captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu. After the early loss of Aryansh Sharma (8), the pair steadied the innings, with Alishan scoring a fluent 55 off 47 balls.
A dominant display with the bat from Tim Seifert powered New Zealand to a comprehensive victory over UAE 🙌
He is the @aramco POTM 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/6apG7kBENG
— ICC (@ICC) February 10, 2026
Waseem anchored the knock with an unbeaten 66 from 45 deliveries, guiding his team to a seemingly competitive total of 173/6. New Zealand’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Matt Henry being the pick with figures of 2/37.
Seifert, Allen unleash brutal chase
In response, New Zealand’s openers, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, made a mockery of the target with a breathtaking display of power-hitting. The duo attacked from the outset, bringing up the team’s fifty in just the fifth over. Both batsmen raced to their individual half-centuries, with the partnership swelling to 119 by the 10-over mark.
Tim Seifert and Finn Allen put up a record-breaking stand to make it two in two at #T20WorldCup for New Zealand 👏
📝: https://t.co/5NVVxOjcFv pic.twitter.com/P7rqBCL0LT
— ICC (@ICC) February 10, 2026
The UAE bowlers had no answers as boundaries flowed relentlessly. Seifert remained unbeaten on a destructive 89 off 42 balls, while Allen finished with a blistering 84 off 50 deliveries. The Blackcaps overhauled the target of 174 in just 15.2 overs without losing a single wicket, showcasing their dominance.
A statement of intent
This comprehensive victory reinforces New Zealand’s status as a major contender in the tournament. The clinical chase, led by a record unbroken opening stand, sends a strong message to other teams in the competition. For the UAE, despite a fighting total, their bowling attack was completely neutralized, highlighting the gap in execution under pressure.
New Zealand will look to carry this momentum forward, while the UAE must regroup quickly for their upcoming fixtures.
