CHENNAI (Dunya News) – New Zealand registered a commanding 10-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in the 11th match of the T20 World Cup, comfortably chasing a target of 174 in Chennai with several overs to spare.
Batting second, New Zealand overhauled the 174-run target in the 16th over without losing a wicket, producing one of the most clinical chases of the tournament so far. The opening pair dominated from the start and kept the required rate under control throughout the innings, leaving the UAE bowlers searching for breakthroughs.
Tim Seifert led the charge with an unbeaten 89 off just 42 balls, delivering a high-impact knock packed with attacking strokes. His innings included 12 fours and three sixes, as he repeatedly pierced the field and punished anything short or wide. Seifert maintained a rapid scoring tempo and rotated the strike effectively to deny the bowlers any relief.
Alongside him, Finn Allen played an equally influential role, scoring 84 not out in a fluent and aggressive display. Allen matched Seifert shot for shot during key phases of the chase, ensuring there was no slowdown in momentum. The pair’s unbroken opening stand carried New Zealand all the way to the target and sealed the result without any late drama.
The UAE bowling unit struggled to make an impact despite having a competitive total on the board. None of the bowlers managed to take a wicket, and several attempts at changing pace and length failed to disrupt New Zealand’s rhythm. Missed opportunities in the field added to their difficulties as the chase slipped away quickly.
Earlier, UAE posted 173 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs after being put under pressure by a disciplined New Zealand attack. Captain Muhammad Waseem top-scored with 66, anchoring the innings and providing stability through the middle overs. His effort formed the backbone of the total and kept UAE in contention.
Alishan Sharafu contributed 55 with a controlled and well-paced innings, while Mayank Kumar added 21 valuable runs to push the score towards a challenging level. UAE built useful partnerships but were unable to fully capitalise in the closing overs against tight bowling.
For New Zealand, Matt Henry was the most successful bowler with two wickets. Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell Santner picked up one wicket each, helping restrict UAE from accelerating beyond the mid-170s despite a solid platform.