Overview:
Waseem and Sharafu added 107 runs for the second wicket, but the Kiwi bowlers didn't allow them to dominate the proceedings completely.
UAE failed to get going in the death overs and were restricted to 173/6 despite two batters scoring fifties in their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 match against New Zealand. After Aryansh Sharma (8) was dismissed, captain Muhammad Waseem scored an unbeaten 66 runs off 45 balls, laced with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes.
However, he slowed down in the death overs, failing to hit big shots. Alishan Sharafu also amassed 55 runs off 47 runs, but his runs came at a strike rate of 117.02. He smashed 5 boundaries and 2 maximums.
Waseem and Sharafu added 107 runs for the second wicket, but the Kiwi bowlers didn’t allow them to dominate the proceedings completely. Harshit Kaushik (2 off 6), Mayank Kumar (21 off 13), Sohaib Khan (7 off 3) and Muhammad Arfan (0 off 1) were unable to stitch stands with Waseem.
Mat Henry took two wickets while Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips dismissed one batter each.
New Zealand started the tournament with a win over Afghanistan, while the UAE are playing their first match.