Skipper Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu’s strong performances led the United Arab Emirates to their highest T20 World Cup total of 173/6 against New Zealand. Opting to bat first, UAE faced an early setback with Aryansh Sharma’s early exit, but Waseem and Sharafu’s partnership of 107 runs became the second-highest second-wicket stand for UAE in T20Is. UAE’s Power-play score of 50/1 marked their highest in T20 World Cups.
Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner’s field brilliance dismissed Sharafu after his impressive half-century, while Waseem’s all-around display, including an unbeaten 66, boosted UAE’s total. Despite a late stumble in wickets, UAE managed to post a competitive score. New Zealand’s Matt Henry took two wickets, with other bowlers contributing one each.
