Sharafu And Waseem Help UAE Post Highest T20 World Cup Total vs New Zealand

In a Group D fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the United Arab Emirates posted their highest T20 World Cup total ever with a competitive 173/6 against New Zealand at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday. The UAE innings was powered by fine batting performances from skipper Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu, who shared a pivotal partnership in the middle overs.

After electing to bat first, the UAE lost early wickets but found stability through a 107-run second-wicket partnership between Waseem and Sharafu. Waseem remained unbeaten on 66 off 45 balls, pacing his innings intelligently and striking boundaries at crucial stages, while Sharafu scored 55 off 47 balls to anchor the middle order.

Their partnership not only steadied the innings after an early setback but also helped the UAE surpass their previous highest T20 World Cup total, previously well below the 170-plus mark. The duo’s contrasting styles — Waseem’s controlled aggression and Sharafu’s composed stroke-play — allowed the team to build momentum and launch into the latter overs with confidence.

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Supporting contributions came from lower-order batsmen who added crucial runs late in the innings, ensuring the total was competitive on a batting-friendly surface at the Chennai venue. The UAE’s score of 173/6 represented a significant achievement in the nation’s T20 World Cup history and provided a challenging target for the Black Caps.

However, New Zealand chased down the target emphatically, winning by 10 wickets inside 15.2 overs, with openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert producing a record-breaking partnership — the highest for any wicket in T20 World Cup history — to seal a comprehensive victory. Allen finished unbeaten on 84 and Seifert on 89, underscoring the depth and firepower of the New Zealand batting lineup.

Despite the loss, the match highlighted the progress of UAE cricket on the global stage, with leaders like Waseem and Sharafu demonstrating their ability to compete with elite opposition in cricket’s premier T20 tournament.

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