Seifert-Allen Tear Apart UAE As New Zealand Extend Perfect Start In T20 World Cup 2026

New Zealand beat UAE by 10 wickets. [Source - AP]

New Zealand continued their strong run in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a dominant victory over the UAE in Match 11 of the tournament. A well-rounded performance with both bat and ball saw the Black Caps outclass UAE in Group D, sealing a comfortable win by 10 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday, February 10.

Here, we take a look at the complete highlights of Match 11 of the T20 World Cup 2026 between New Zealand and the UAE, as it unfolded in Chennai.

Waseem-Sharafu stand steadies UAE after early setback

After choosing to bat, UAE had a shaky start as keeper-opener Aryansh Sharma fell early inside the powerplay. He began well with a couple of boundaries, but Jacob Duffy struck in the powerplay again. New Zealand kept things tight early and applied pressure with the new ball.

Alishan Sharafu then joined captain Muhammad Waseem and the pair rebuilt calmly. They handled the new ball well and avoided further damage, taking UAE to 50 inside the powerplay. After that, New Zealand kept things tight with disciplined bowling, forcing quiet overs and keeping the run rate in check.

The momentum shifted when Lockie Ferguson returned and UAE began to counterattack. Sharafu led the charge with positive strokeplay as UAE finally broke free. The second-wicket pair crossed 100, with Sharafu completing a fluent 39-ball fifty, putting New Zealand under pressure with six overs left.

Santner leads New Zealand's comeback to restrict UAE to below-par total

With UAE standing tall at 119 for 1 in 14 overs, New Zealand went searching for a breakthrough and Mitchell Santner delivered it. He removed the dangerous looking Sharafu, breaking the 107-run stand, bringing back the Blackcaps back in control, helped by sharp boundary fielding from Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell.

UAE then lost rhythm as New Zealand tightened the screws. Three very tight overs followed, bringing another wicket and just 10 runs, leaving the batters under pressure. Santner then handed a second over to Glenn Phillips which proved costly as Mayank Kumar and Waseem counterattacked hard, smashing 27 runs off it.

Ferguson and Matt Henry returned to close the innings well, conceding only 17 runs in the final two overs as UAE finished on a competitive 173. On bowling perspective, Henry took two wickets but went for 37. The spinners impressed, with Santner’s economical 1/23 and Rachin Ravindra conceding just 19 in three overs, pulling things back from a near-200 threat.

Seifert-Allen’s unbeaten opening partnership hammers UAE

Chasing 174, New Zealand came out firing as Tim Seifert and Finn Allen went straight on the attack. The openers showed clear intent from ball one, racing to 78 inside the powerplay and putting UAE bowlers under heavy pressure early in the chase.

Seifert and Allen were ruthless, punishing every loose delivery and never letting the momentum drop. Both batters reached their half centuries at rapid pace, taking all UAE bowlers to the cleaners. With boundaries flowing freely, New Zealand looked completely in control of the chase.

UAE found no way back as the Kiwi openers never removed their foot from the accelerator. New Zealand cruised home in just 15.2 overs, sealing a dominant win. Seifert finished unbeaten on 89 off 42, while Allen scored an unbeaten 84 off 50, making it two wins in two after beating Afghanistan earlier in Chennai.