NZ vs UAE, T20 World Cup 2026: Seifert-Allen record stand powers New Zealand to 10-wicket win

In the 11th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen scripted a world-record opening partnership of 175 runs as the Kiwis cruised to a dominant 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in their Group C clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

The emphatic win marked New Zealand’s second consecutive victory in Chennai, while the UAE remained winless in the tournament and struggled to match the Black Caps’ firepower.

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UAE captain Muhammad Waseem won the toss and elected to bat on a true, bouncy surface. However, Aryansh Sharma endured a brief stay at the crease, miscued a rising delivery from Jacob Duffy, and departed for 12 as the UAE slipped to 12/1.

Waseem and Alishan Sharafu then steadied the innings with a commanding 107-run stand for the second wicket off just 77 balls. Both batters struck fluent half-centuries, with Sharafu reaching his fifty first before Waseem brought up his 29th T20I half-century.

New Zealand clawed back some momentum through Mitchell Santner, who dismissed Sharafu for 55, before Glenn Phillips chipped in with a wicket in the following over. The Black Caps applied the squeeze, conceding just 10 runs across 18 balls while picking up two wickets.

The UAE broke free late in the innings as Mayank Kumar and Waseem launched a counterattack, smashing Phillips for 27 runs in the 18th over. Late hitting propelled the UAE to 173/6, their highest-ever T20 World Cup total. Waseem remained unbeaten on 66, while Matt Henry (2/37) and Santner (1/23) were the standout New Zealand bowlers.

In reply, Seifert and Allen unleashed a brutal assault from the outset, racing to 78 runs in the powerplay and effectively ending the contest early. Overs of 20 and 22 runs dismantled the UAE bowling attack and erased any hopes of a comeback.

Both openers brought up rapid half-centuries, with Allen scoring 84 off 50 balls and Seifert smashing an unbeaten 89 off just 42 deliveries. Their unbroken 175-run opening stand set a new T20 World Cup record, surpassing previous landmark partnerships in the tournament’s history.

New Zealand chased down the target in just 15.2 overs without losing a wicket, completing one of the most dominant performances of the tournament.

Captains’ Take at the Toss

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem won the toss and elected to bat first in the Group C clash.

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem said:

“We are going to bat first. The pitch is looking good. I believe it is going to be the same in both the innings so hopefully we put a good score up. It is difficult to get a good playing XI, though we have a good combination of spinners and fast bowlers. Hopefully it works for us. Absolutely we want to show the world how well we are playing T20 cricket. Yes, it is a tough group but we ready for the challenge. We have come here with a strong mindset. Confidence is good. However, it is a different venue and a different pitch, so I’ll try my best.”

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said:

“It looks like a good wicket to me. If we’d won the toss, we probably would’ve looked to bat as well. But having said that, the pitch seems to play pretty well throughout the day. We’re going with the same team. It’s a similar combination to what we played with the other day.”

Talking about their preparation, Santner added, “These days, you have to do a lot of video analysis. With franchise cricket around, you can find footage of almost anyone. We only had a day between games, so yesterday was about reviewing our own plans and getting ready for a stronger opposition. It’s about being smart with preparation.”

Praising the UAE, the Kiwi skipper said, “They’re a good side. We know they beat us in Dubai, and on these kinds of surfaces – slightly slower ones – they can be very tricky. They do rely on a few key players, but overall, their squad is solid. We know we have to be switched on today.”

New Zealand vs UAE, T20 World Cup: Live Streaming Details

Fans across the globe can catch the UAE vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 match live on TV and digital platforms.

• In India, the match will be televised on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
• Viewers in the UAE and MENA region can watch the match on CricLife Max, with StarzPlay offering live streaming.
• In New Zealand, the match will be broadcast on SKY Sport, with digital coverage available on SKY Sport NOW.
• Fans in the United Kingdom can tune in via Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming available on NOW.
• In Australia, the match will be streamed exclusively on Prime Video.
• For audiences in the USA and Canada, Willow TV will provide TV coverage, while Willow by Cricbuzz will offer live streaming.
• In Pakistan, the match will be broadcast on PTV Sports and Geo Super, with streaming options available on Myco, Tamasha, ARY Zapp, and Tapmad.
• Fans in Sri Lanka can watch the match on Dialog TV, with digital streaming on ThePapare.com and Dialog Play.

New Zealand vs UAE, T20 World Cup: Playing XIs

United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid Khan

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy