New Zealand vs Pakistan, ICC MT20 WC, 2026 Feb 21 Full score card

OUT! TAKEN! Matt Henry ends with another wicket. Back of a length, on middle, Muhammad Arfan tries to go big, but he doesn't get the connection right. The ball again flies and carries to Glenn Phillips at deep cover. He runs forward and completes the catch. United Arab Emirates end their innings at 173/6.

Final ball coming up. Muhammad Arfan is the next batter in.

OUT! CAUGHT! Matt Henry picks a wicket. Back of a length, on middle, Sohaib Khan takes a step forward and looks to pull it but doesn't connect well. The ball carries towards deep mid-wicket. Glenn Phillips moves forward and completes the regulation catch. Matt Henry gets his revenge immediately.

SIX! That goes all the way! Back of a length, on middle and leg, Sohaib Khan picks it well and pulls it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Magnificent shot.

A yorker, on middle, Muhammad Waseem looks to flick it but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball then deflects past the leg stump and trickles behind. Waseem is ball-watching, but Sohaib calls him through for a single as he is more than halfway for the run. Seifert rushes forward to pick the ball up and Waseem eventually skates through to the other end. The keeper throws it to the bowling end but misses his shy as Waseem drags his bat in.

Slower one, on middle, Sohaib Khan flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

Hard length, on off, Muhammad Waseem knocks it down the ground for a single.

35 runs from the last 2 overs for the UAE. Waseem is on strike and will look to face all six of those to get the score past 180. Sohaib Khan walks in at number 6. Matt Henry (3-0-28-0) to wrap up.

OUT! TAKEN! Lockie Ferguson strikes. Short ball does the trick. It's banged in outside off, Mayank Kumar stays back and looks to hook it but gets a top edge as the ball rears up and gets big on him. It spoons up towards mid off. Mitchell Santner moves across, lurks under the skier, keeps his eyes locked in on the ball and completes the catch. Mayank Kumar's cameo of 21 from just 13 balls comes to an end, and he walks back to a good ovation from the crowd.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! A full toss, outside off, Mayank Kumar looks to slap it but gets an outside edge. The ball races through short third for a boundary.

Wide! Width, way outside off, Mayank Kumar leaves. Wide called.

Much fuller, on off, Muhammad Waseem forces it to long on for a single. The skipper wanted a second run, but the fielder did well.

On a length, on middle, Mayank Kumar tucks it to mid-wicket for a run.

Bangs it short again, outside off, Mayank Kumar has a fiddle but cannot adjust with the bounce.

Short, outside off, Muhammad Waseem looks to slap it but gets a top edge. The ball goes towards third man as the batters collect a single.

Nah, the gamble didn't pay off well for New Zealand. That over just might have provided the momentum UAE were after. Leave 160-170, even 180 plus is on the cards if Waseem keeps the strike for most of the balls left. Lockie Ferguson (2-0-27-0) to bowl the penultimate over.

Short, on middle, Mayank Kumar helps it to short fine leg where Duffy dives to his right and makes a half stop. The ball rolls in the deep as the batters collect two runs. Massive over for the United Arab Emirates. 27 runs coming off it.

Quicker, outside off, Muhammad Waseem taps it to backward point for a single.

SIX! What an over this is turning out to be for Waseem and his side! Flatter, on middle, Muhammad Waseem stays in his crease and plunders it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 150 comes up for the United Arab Emirates.

FOUR! The onslaught continues from Muhammad Waseem! Flatter, on off, Muhammad Waseem makes room and punches it in the gap through covers for a boundary. To make matters worse, Glenn Phillips has overstepped. Free Hit coming up...

Two wides! Flatter, down the leg side, Mayank Kumar looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to collect it as the batters collect a single.

SIX! Even better from Mayank Kumar! Quicker, on middle, Mayank Kumar gets down on one knee and slogs it powerfully over deep mid-wicket for a massive six.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary for the United Arab Emirates! Flatter, on middle and leg, Mayank Kumar uses the pace of the ball and slogs it through backward square leg for a boundary.

Flatter, on middle, Muhammad Waseem drags it through backward square leg for a single.

Change? Oh, no. Santner continues with Phillips for the 18th over. That's very interesting. A huge gamble, in fact. He is 1-0-3-1 so far.

Fuller one, outside off, Mayank Kumar leaves it alone.

Too full, just outside off, Mayank Kumar fails to get his bat down in time and gets beaten on the outside edge.

Fifty up for Muhammad Waseem! Off 37 balls. A very responsible knock from the UAE skipper. On a length, outside off, Muhammad Waseem cuts it through covers for a single. He will look to stay out there till the end if the UAE are to get anywhere near that 160-170 mark.

Short ball, outside off, Mayank Kumar guides it gently towards short third for just a single.

Hard length, on middle, Mayank Kumar fends it back to the bowler.

A full toss, outside off, Mayank Kumar drills it through cover-point for a brace.

Lockie Ferguson (2-0-23-0) is back on.

Much fuller, on middle and leg, Mayank Kumar tucks it to square leg for a single. 6 runs and 2 wickets from the last two overs.

One brings two, they say. UAE have slipped down to 119/1 to 124/3 as Mayank Kumar walks in at number 5.

OUT! TAKEN! Glenn Phillips gets a wicket in his first over. Short and wide, and the ball gets an extra bounce off the deck. Harshit Kaushik tries to cut it but gets a top edge and fails to keep it along the ground. The ball carries towards backward point. James Neesham dives to his left and takes a good catch, hanging onto it. Harshit Kaushik goes without much impact. Just 2 off 6 for him. It's been a good passage of play for the Black Caps.

Nice and full, on middle, Muhammad Waseem turns it towards mid-wicket for a single.

Fired in, on leg, Muhammad Waseem tucks it to the fielder at short mid-wicket.

Flatter, outside off, Harshit Kaushik cuts it to backward point. The fielder dives to his left and makes a good stop. Keeps it to a single.

Quicker, just outside off, Harshit Kaushik drives it to the cover fielder.

Short and wide, Muhammad Waseem looks to cut it but edges it to third man for a brace. End of a fantastic over from the Kiwi skipper.

Quicker, on middle and leg, Harshit Kaushik gets low and slogs it through square leg for a single.

Flatter, on off, Harshit Kaushik blocks it back to the bowler.

Much fuller, on middle, Harshit Kaushik defends it forward.

The 107-run partnership for the second wicket is broken. New Zealand would want to cash in on this break in momentum and string in a few quiet overs now. Harshit Kaushik walks in at number 4.

OUT! TAKEN! That is a screamer of a catch. The one that makes you wonder, are these fielders made of rubber bands? Insane level of flexibility, defying gravity. Full and flat, tossed up wide outside off. Sharafu shuffles across his stumps and launches it towards the gap between deep mid-wicket and long on. Chapman leaps at the edge of the boundary and, realising that he might go over the line with the momentum, he smartly lobs the ball back into play before falling over the ropes. Daryl Mitchell, who converges from long on, moves quickly to his right and completes the catch. Chapman is convinced he has done it cleanly, but the on-field umpires send it upstairs. The replays confirm Chapman has released the ball before going over the ropes. It is a fair catch, and Sharafu has to walk back. It required something special to break this partnership, and New Zealand will be hoping to gain some control.

Slower through the air, full and tossed up wide outside the off stump. Sharafu goes for the reverse sweep but misses it to the keeper. Seifert whips the bails off and appeals but Sharafu's back leg never got lifted or dragged outside the crease.

DRINKS BREAK! Well, well, well. Who would have thought that New Zealand would be under pressure and desperate for wickets? The partnership between these two batters is now worth 107 runs, and they will aim to bat as long as possible from here to get that total in the vicinity of 200.

FOUR! Spoils the over for Rachin. Pushed through, on a fuller length, around off. It is the arm ball that goes across. Waseem shuffles in the crease to the off side, sits down on a knee and slog sweeps it uppishly, behind square on the leg side and beats the deep square leg fielder to his right for a boundary.

Good length, around off, Alishan creates room and slaps it to the left of Santner at cover. The Kiwi skipper fumbles and allows a single.

Not that short, on middle, Waseem commits on the back foot and tucks it to widish mid-wicket for a run.

A bit short, on off, Muhammad Waseem steers it off the back foot to backward point.

Spots Sharafu charging down, Rachin fires one on leg, on a length. Sharafu punches it down to long off for a single.

Slides one into the batter, short in length, Alishan Sharafu backs away and cuts it to backward point.

Wide outside off, on a fractionally fuller length, Alishan Sharafu slashes it like a knife to deep backward point for a single. With this, the 100-run partnership, off 69 balls, comes up between Waseem and Sharafu. This has been a perfect outing for these two.

Cuts back in a touch, on a good length, on middle. Waseem heaves it off the inner half, wide of mid-wicket and strolls for a single. The partnership is worth 99 runs!

FOUR! This is good, proactive batting. Not a good ball by Henry. With short third in the ring, he bowls a short ball, outside off. Waseem rises with the bounce and just ramps it over that in-ring fielder for a boundary.

Hard length, outside off, punched on the up to deep cover for a single.

Back of a length and around off. Alishan backs away and chops it down off the inside half of the bat back to the bowler.

SIX! FIFTY FOR ALISHAN SHARAFU! Matt lands it on a fuller length, angling on middle and off. Alishan Sharafu picks the length nicely, waits for the cutter to arrive, gets down on a knee and slogs it over mid-wicket. Doesn't get a good connection, but since it is targetted toward the shorter boundary, it sails all the way over the ropes. It has been a high quality knock so far from Sharafu. This also brings up the 100 for UAE.

Matt Henry (2-0-15-0) returns for another spell.

Back of a length, angled at the pads, Muhammad Waseem steers it past the diving short fine leg fielder, to his left, for a couple of runs as square leg mops it up in the deep. 15 runs from the over!

On a hard length, outside off, this is punched through the point region for a single.

SIX! Goodness me, how well has he played that? A touch short in length, outside off, Alishan Sharafu presses in front at first, but adjusts to the bounce and ramps it finer over deep third for a six. The umpires want to be doubly sure if the ball sailed all over. The replay shows that it indeed went over the ropes.

FOUR! Perfectly played! Lockie goes for a yorker, but misses it badly. Ends up offering a juicy full toss, outside off. Alishan Sharafu liberates his arms and opens the bat face at the last second, finding the gap between backward point and short third for a boundary. Alishan moves to 38 (36).

Slower delivery, on the stumps, Waseem clips it through square leg for a single.

Sharafu steps down the track and slashes this length ball through cover-point for a single. There is protection in the deep, so they will get just one.

Lockie Ferguson is back on. Went for 8 runs off his first over.

A bit quicker, short and outside off, Muhammad Waseem stays put and slaps it to the right of deep backward point for a couple of runs as the ball is intercepted in the deep.

Slow and short, outside off, Alishan hangs deep in the crease and cuts it to backward point. Duffy again throws himself to the left and cuts it off, restricting the batters to a single only.

Tight single! Slower through the air, on a length, outside off, Waseem looks to cut, but chops it to the point region and takes a risky run.

Slower through the air, short and spinning away. Alishan Sharafu heaves it to mid-wicket for a single.

Short, outside off, Waseem cuts it off the back foot. Duffy, at backward point, dives to his left and half-stops it, parrying the ball further away to his left. A single taken.

Dropped full, on the stumps, swept in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Halfway through. UAE are 77/1 as this stand between Alishan and Waseem is motoring along nicely. Mitchell Santner is back on.

Good over from Rachin Ravindra. Short, on leg, Alishan Sharafu turns it to mid-wicket for a single.

Too full, on middle, Alishan Sharafu stays back and blocks it to the right of the bowler.

Short, on off, Alishan Sharafu punches it to the fielder at cover.

Quicker, on middle and leg, Muhammad Waseem flicks it to wide of mid on for a single. Rachin Ravindra runs and chases it down.

Flighted up, on middle and leg, Alishan Sharafu tucks it to mid-wicket for a run.

Short, on middle and leg, Alishan Sharafu blocks it back to the bowler.

On a length, on off, Muhammad Waseem taps it to the point fielder. Dot to end the over.

A slower length ball, on top of off, Alishan Sharafu walks forward and eases it using his wrists to the mid-wicket region and sets off for a quick single. James Neesham runs across from the follow-through and gets to the ball. Throws it to the batting end but misses his shy as Waseem skates through to that end. Seifert does well to move to his right and gather the ball behind.

Much fuller, just outside off, Alishan Sharafu blocks it to the point fielder.

Slower one, on off, Muhammad Waseem blocks it to short cover for a run.

Length again, on off, Alishan Sharafu steers it through backward point for a single.

FOUR! Welcome to the attack, James Neesham! Hard length, on off, Alishan Sharafu skips down the track and slaps it over extra cover for a boundary. UAE are doing well in getting at least a boundary in every over since the end of the Powerplay.

James Neesham is brought into the attack. He replaces Rachin Ravindra.

Much fuller, on middle, Alishan Sharafu makes room and drills it through mid off for a single.

Short, on leg, Alishan Sharafu is cramped for room and keeps it out towards short fine.

Nice and full, on middle, Muhammad Waseem gets low and sweeps it through square leg for a run.

Quicker, on leg, Alishan Sharafu knocks it down the ground for a single at long on.

FOUR! Top shot from Alishan Sharafu! Short, on off, Alishan Sharafu makes room and slaps it magnificently over point for a boundary. The 50-run partnership comes up between Waseem and Sharafu.

Flatter, fuller and down leg, Muhammad Waseem looks to flick it but the ball brushes his pads and rolls to fine leg. They collect a leg bye.

Keeps it full, on leg, Muhammad Waseem taps it through mid on for one more. 9 from Rachin's first over.

Nice and full, outside off, Alishan Sharafu knocks it down to long off for a run.

Short, on off, Alishan Sharafu blocks it to the cover fielder.

Full, on middle, Muhammad Waseem slogs it on the bounce towards deep square leg for a single.

SIX! Muhammad Waseem goes down the ground! Flighted up, on off, Muhammad Waseem takes a step forward and plunders it down the ground for a biggie.

Quicker, on middle, Muhammad Waseem blocks it to short cover.

DRINKS BREAK. Barring Aryansh's wicket, the UAE have done extremely well on this bouncy track. Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu seem to have got accustomed to this wicket as they have dealt with the bounce nicely so far. They would aim to bat long and consolidate the middle overs, as this pitch has runs written all over it. New Zealand have deployed spin early on to clamp down on the scoring rate as they look to break this partnership. Here's more spin. Rachin Ravindra is in the attack, replacing Lockie Ferguson.

Flatter, on off, Muhammad Waseem knocks it through wide of mid off for a single. 50/1 in the Powerplay!

Quicker, on middle and leg, Muhammad Waseem gets down on one knee and sweeps it through square leg for a brace. Excellent fielding in the deep.

Short, on leg, Alishan Sharafu shuffles across and pulls it through mid-wicket for just a single.

Nice and full, on middle, Muhammad Waseem flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Short, on off, Alishan Sharafu knocks it down the ground for a single.

Short and on middle, Alishan backs away and punches it to short cover.

Back of a length, on middle, pulled off the back foot to deep backward square leg for a single.

Speared full and wide outside off, Alishan Sharafu throws his bat at it, but fails to connect.

Full ball strayed down the leg stump, Alishan backs away and looks to hoick it down the ground, but gets beaten due to pace.

On a hard length, zipping through the deck, on off, Alishan Sharafu is rushed on the pull shot, and fails to collect. The ball deflects off his body and rolls to backward point.

Shortish delivery, over middle, Waseem plays it late and dabs it in front of backward point for a quick run.

FOUR! Good shot, played according to the field. A touch fuller, slanting into the batter, Muhammad Waseem picks it up and lifts it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Two wides! Lockie starts off with a loosener. Down leg, on a good length, Alishan Sharafu misses the flick by getting inside the line and Tim Seifert fumbles to collect to his left, deflecting the ball away and allowing a leg bye.

Good gas! Banged short and outside off, and it keeps rising up. Waseem lets it be.

Swing and a miss! On a back of a length, wide outside off, Muhammad Waseem flashes hard at it getting out of the crease, only to miss.

SIX! Cleverly played! Duffy goes short into the pitch, over off. Muhammad Waseem knows that deep third is positioned a bit squarer and executes the ramp shot, playing it finer over deep third fence for a six.

Jags back in from a length, on top of off, Alishan Sharafu plays from the crease and stabs it through backward point for a run.

On a back of a length, outside off, Alishan Sharafu steers it on the bounce to cover-point.

Steps out of the crease and pushes this length ball in front of cover and steals a single.

On a fractionally fuller length, shaping away, outside off, Alishan Sharafu leans on and slashes it to deep backward point for a couple of runs. 14 from the over.

FOUR LEG BYES! Length, down the leg side, Alishan Sharafu looks to flick it but wears it on his pads. The ball rolls towards short mid-wicket. The fielder, James Neesham, makes a direct hit at the batter's end but Alishan Sharafu retreats back in well in time. The ball deflects towards deep cover and Glenn Phillips from the inner ring, sprints after it. Makes a sliding stop just before the ropes as the batters collect four leg byes by running.

FOUR! Brilliant shot! Short of a length, on middle, Alishan Sharafu stays in his crease and pulls it powerfully through square leg as the ball races away to the fence.

Nice and full, on leg, Alishan Sharafu knocks it to the mid on fielder.

FOUR! Nicely played! On a length, outside off, Alishan Sharafu takes a step forward and chips it magnificently over mid off for a boundary.

Hard length, down the leg side, Alishan Sharafu looks to flick it but wears it on his pads. Henry is excited but the keeper, Tim Seifert, gestures that it just might have missed the stumps on height and hence, they do not review it.

Play and a miss! Short, outside off, Muhammad Waseem has a fiddle but misses.

WIDE! Short and bouncing above the head height. Waseem ignores. Wide called for height.

Length ball, on the stumps, jags back in, Waseem stands tall and dead bats it.

Length ball outside off, Alishan hangs back and guides this down to deep third for a single.

The Kiwis have their first wicket already. Alishan Sharafu is in at number 3.

OUT! GONE! Duffy with the first breakthrough. He bangs it short and angles it into the batter's body. It lands and keeps rising from the pitch and gets big on Sharma who lines up for a pull shot. However, he cannot control the pull and top edges it over backward square leg. Glenn Phillips runs in off the ropes and takes a fine catch in the outfield. United Arab Emirates are 12/1.

FOUR! Off the edge! Slammed fuller, swinging away, wide outside off. Aryansh Sharma throws his bat at it, plays away from the body and gets a big outside edge. The ball flies above the leaping short third fielder and shoots to the ropes behind.

WIDE! A bit too straight down the leg stump line, on a shorter length. Aryansh misses helping it away. Seifert collects around his chest.

Hits the hard length, outside off, Muhammad Waseem hangs back and steers it to deep backward point for a single.

Jacob Duffy to bowl from the opposite end.

FOUR! Ends the over with a boundary! Matt Henry errs his line down the leg side, Aryansh Sharma picks it well and helps it through fine leg for a boundary, first of the match.

Hard length, on leg, Aryansh Sharma blocks it to mid on.

Much fuller, outside off, Muhammad Waseem pushes it to point for a single.

Short, outside off, Muhammad Waseem leaves it alone.

An appeal for LBW, but not given. Back of a length, jagging back in with a good bounce again. Aryansh Sharma misses to work that across off the back foot and is rapped high on the front thigh. Santner gives it a thought, but then decides not to review it. Possibly, height is the factor.

Nips in a touch straightaway, on a good length, on middle. Aryansh Sharma hops on the back foot and drops it down the pitch. Already, there are signs of good bounce.

All set for the game to start in Chennai. The umpires make their way out to the middle. Mitchell Santner leads his troops out to the center as the Kiwis spread on the field. Aryansh Sharma walks out with his skipper, Muhammad Waseem, to open for the UAE. Matt Henry will bowl the first over of the match. Sharma to face the first ball. One slip in place. Here we go...

The giant flags of both nations unfurl out in the middle as it is time for the national anthems. Both sets of players get lined up along with the match officials. It will be UAE's first, followed by that of New Zealand's.

PITCH REPORT - Ian Smith says it is a beautiful afternoon and informs that it is pretty humid out there. In terms of ground dimensions, he says the square boundaries are 73 and 60 meters, while the straight hit is 75 meters. He feels that due to the bias on one side, the batters will aim to exploit the conditions by targeting the shorter boundaries. Sunil Gavaskar joins in and straightaway says it is made for runs. The Little Master details that it is pretty hard and mentions that if you punch it, you might as well break your knuckles. So, he expects the bounce to be true throughout the game. Highlights that New Zealand bowled majorly on short and short of a length to tie up the batters in their previous game against Afghanistan. Stresses that bowling fuller here will invite a lot of trouble. Expects the first inning score to be in the range of 180-200.

The captain of New Zealand - Mitchell Santner says it looks like a good wicket and they were also thinking of batting first. Informs that they are going with the same team that played the previous game. Adds that it is the first time he has seen some grass on a wicket in Chennai. Further details that the surface in the last game was more of a black soil, whereas this one, he points out, is a red soil surface. Expects that it will stay true throughout and will offer a good bit of bounce and carry as well.  Santner notes that preparation now involves watching a lot of videos and keeping up with franchise cricket. He admits that UAE is a good side, saying they rely on a few key players but have a strong overall squad that can make things tricky for them.

The captain of United Arab Emirates - Muhammad Waseem says the pitch looks good and is expected to play the same across both innings. He hopes the team can put a competitive total on the board and adds that they are keen to show the world how they play T20 cricket. Acknowledging that it is a tough group, he stresses that the side is ready for the challenge, having arrived with a different mindset and clear plans, taking the tournament one game at a time. He also notes that the confidence in the camp is high, and with a new venue and a new tournament, he aims to lead from the front.

New Zealand (Unchanged Playing XI) - Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.

United Arab Emirates (Playing XI) - Aryansh Sharma (WK), Muhammad Waseem (C), Alishan Sharafu, Mayank Kumar, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid.

TOSS - Right. It is coming to toss time at Chepauk. Both captains - Mitchell Santner and Muhammad Waseem - are out in the middle. Santner gives it a flick and Waseem calls it right. UAE ELECT TO BAT FIRST​​​​​​.

How's the weather in Chennai? Anytime you hear Chennai, you automatically think of humidity. Sticky weather, players and jerseys drenched in sweat, the heat doing its thing. And honestly, it’s no different this time around either. It is pretty hot and humid out there, but thankfully, the skies are clear, and that's what we want.

The 'Oranje' claim their first win - Up north in the Indian capital, the Dutch men have clinched their first victory of this T20 World Cup. They have just defeated Namibia in a Group A clash. Restricting the Namibians to a middling score of 156, the Netherlands chased it down with two overs to spare. Bas de Leede delivered an impressive all-round performance. He picked up a 2/20 in 3 overs, and contributed massively with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 72 off just 48 balls to seal the deal in their favor. With this win, the Netherlands move to the second spot in their group with a win and a defeat so far in two games.

Spin to win? Chennai has traditionally been kind to spinners, and with this being a day game, the tweakers might get even more assistance. That said, it’s still a decent surface to bat on. The red soil pitch stays firm throughout the day, keeping the bounce true and the pace consistent. UAE’s biggest test will be handling New Zealand’s spin attack, which can strangle teams in these conditions. For the Kiwis, the unfamiliarity with UAE could work both ways.  New Zealand have already played here, chasing down 183 without much fuss. The stats back up chasing too. Out of four T20Is at this venue, teams batting second have won three, and New Zealand have a perfect record here with two wins from two. Will we see another high-scoring game? Both teams have decent pace bowling stocks too, all capable of exploiting the new ball. But expect a spin-heavy lineup for this one with respect to the conditions. Toss and teams coming up shortly.

The Emiratis eye an upset - Don’t write UAE off just yet. They stunned a full-strength Bangladesh in a T20I series back in May 2025, and against the Kiwis specifically, they did win a game in Dubai, in their head-to-head record of 2-1, which is in favor of New Zealand. Those victories weren’t flukes at all. Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu are their main weapons, the only two batters who’ve crossed 1000 runs since the last edition. If the middle order can stick around and keep the scoreboard ticking, an upset isn’t out of the question.

Can the Kiwis fly? Not literally, obviously. But New Zealand can certainly dominate if they bring their best game. Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have both been in red-hot form, making them a dangerous opening pair capable of setting up monster totals. They both have the best strike rates for the Blackcaps since the last T20 World Cup as well. Phillips and Mitchell are the fortifiers of the middle order, with Chapman providing handy contributions. The concern? Rachin Ravindra. A golden duck last game, four single-digit scores in his last six knocks. The talented youngster needs runs, and he needs them now before this rough patch turns into something worse.

The Group of death - Group D is considered one of the most tightly contested ones, with three teams - New Zealand, South Africa and Afghanistan - all capable of scraping through to the next stage. So a single slip up will led in playing catch-up. However, New Zealand enter this one as the favourites and making it two wins out of two games would surely make them the top contenders for Super 8. UAE missed out on the last World Cup, but the ILT20 has sharpened their skills and given them a proper taste of high-level T20 cricket. They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to fight.

The Chepauk challenge - Day 4. Match 11. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup keeps rolling on with the triple headers coming non-stop. We move into Chennai now for another Group D battle as New Zealand take on the United Arab Emirates at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. UAE are finally getting their campaign underway, and they will need to bring their A-game against the Kiwis, who are on a winning momentum. On that note, hello and welcome to our coverage.

... MATCH DAY ...

Match intro - As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 rolls into its first week, Match 11 brings a fascinating Group D encounter to the spin-friendly tracks of Chennai. The experienced New Zealand squad faces a rising United Arab Emirates (UAE) side that has recently shown they are no longer just making up the numbers in global tournaments. New Zealand is riding high after a clinical win over Afghanistan, while the UAE is looking to make a statement in their opening fixtures. Building on the previous win - New Zealand enter this match with momentum following a record-breaking opening win against Afghanistan, where they successfully chased down 183, their highest-ever successful chase in T20 World Cup history. Led by Mitchell Santner, the Black Caps are leaning on a spin-heavy strategy perfectly suited for the Chennai dust. With Santner and Ish Sodhi returning to the ground where they made their names in 2016, New Zealand’s Spin Twins will be the primary threat. The Kiwis also have someone like James Neesham in their ranks. While his return against Afghanistan was quiet, his finishing ability remains vital in what is widely considered the tournament’s Group of Death. Tim Seifert was the hero of the opening game, anchoring the record chase with a composed half-century. His ability to handle both the new ball and the turning ball in the middle overs makes him the linchpin of the Kiwi top order. Looking to make a mark - The UAE, however, shouldn't be overlooked. This is their first T20 World Cup appearance since 2022, and they arrived in India after a strong showing in the Asia-EAP qualifiers. Most notably, the UAE famously defeated New Zealand in a T20I back in 2023, a result that still serves as a warning for the Kiwis. Also, Head coach Lalchand Rajput, a former India opener and coach, knows these conditions intimately. He has been vocal about building the mental toughness of his side to compete with big nations. Alishan Sharafu will hold the key for the UAE. The right-handed batter has been in blistering form over the last year, crossing the 1,000-run mark in T20Is since 2024. He strikes at nearly 150 against pace, but his battle against Santner and Sodhi on a turning track will define the UAE’s innings. Form (Last 5 completed matches, most recent first) - New Zealand - WLWLL | United Arab Emirates - LLLWW. Match outlook - The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is a traditional spin-bowling paradise. Expect the ball to grip and turn from the first innings. A total of 165–170 is likely to be a match-winning score. With the afternoon start, dew will not be a factor, making the toss slightly less critical than in night matches. Will we see an upset? Or will the Black Caps storm through to another win and get one foot in the next stage of the competition? Only time will tell.