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The United Arab Emirates (UAE) posted their highest total in T20 World Cup history, courtesy of a strong batting performance against the mighty New Zealand side in a Group D match at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. The UAE posted a challenging total of 173 for 6 in 20 overs and surpassed the previous best T20 WC total of 151 after opting to bat first in the campaign opener.

The 173-run total by the UAE is the highest score for an Associate team vs New Zealand in T20Is.

Muhammad Waseem led from the front with a sensational knock of 66* off 45 balls. The UAE skipper carried the bat and gave his team a fighting chance against the Kiwis.

Waseem and Alishan Sharafu (55) shared a 107-run partnership for the second wicket to post the highest stand for any wicket for the UAE in a T20 World Cup match. This was also the first instance when an associate nation has aggregated a century stand against a Full-member team.

Waseem and Sharafu make Kiwis toil in Chennai.
Waseem and Sharafu continued to score briskly in the powerplay despite Aryansh Sharma (8) falling in the second over, bowled by Jacob Duffy.

Waseem and Sharafu mixed caution with aggression to frustrate the Kiwi bowlers in hot conditions in Chennai.

It took something special from Mark Chapman to break the partnership. The Kiwi batter parried the ball back to Dary Mitchell to complete a brilliant relay catch at the deep midwicket boundary.y

UAE struggled to maintain the scoring rate after Sharafu’s dismissal in the 15th over.

However, the Asian side benefited from New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner’s decision to give the 18th over to Glenn Phillips. The part-time spinner conceded 27 runs in the over, with Waseem and Mayank Kumar hitting a six each.

Though Matt Henry picked up two wickets in the final over, the UAE still managed to score 51 runs in the last five overs to finish strongly.