New Zealand pegged them back with two quick wickets. Captain Mitchell Santner dismissed Sharafu while Glenn Phillips sent back Harshit Kaushik within the space of 10 balls and five runs, reducing UAE to 124/3.
Despite the setback, Waseem continued to plunder runs. The UAE captain carried the bat through for an unbeaten 66 off 45 balls, slamming four fours and three sixes during the innings. Mayank Kumar also chipped in with a cameo of 21.
Matt Henry snapped two wickets off the last two balls of the innings, while Jacob Duffy, Santner, Lockie Ferguson and Phillips claimed a wicket apiece.
Unbeaten in Chennai in any format since 2011, New Zealand flexed their muscles in the chase. They hit fifth gear in the second over, and were relentless in pursuit. With Tim Seifert and Finn Allen in punishing mood, New Zealand put on 78/0 in the first six overs, including 20 in the sixth over. It was just the start the Kiwis needed to thwart any hopes of an upset being pulled off by the UAE.
Seifert brought up his 50 in 23 balls, making it the second-fastest century of the World Cup so far. There was no reprieve at the other end for UAE, as Allen continued to stand and deliver, racing to 50 in 27 balls.
While Seifert finished unbeaten on 89 (42 balls, 12 fours, three sixes), Allen was not out on 84 (50 balls, five fours and five sixes) as New Zealand romped to 175/0 in 15.2 overs. Fittingly, Seifert brought up victory with a six after dancing down the pitch. The 175-run stand between Seifert and Allen was the highest partnership for any wicket in men’s T20 World Cup history.
It was New Zealand’s second successive win at the T20 World Cup 2026 and saw them climb atop Group D standings.