The NZ vs UAE T20 World Cup 2026 saw a thrilling encounter between New Zealand (NZ) and the UAE in Group D of the tournament. The match was hosted at the legendary stadium, the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, providing a resounding contrast between a cricket giant and a new challenger on the block.
Match Summary
Date: February 10, 202
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Result: New Zealand won by 7 wickets
The United Arab Emirates opted to bat first and could manage to score only 136/9 in the stipulated 20 overs. The batting effort was led by Vriitya Aravind’s gritty 38. The New Zealand bowling was totally dominant, with the combined efforts of Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson. In reply, New Zealand chased the target easily in 16.3 overs. The Kiwis reached 137 for 3, led by Devon Conway who scored 52. The other end was held firm by Kane Williamson with 34 runs.
Key Performers
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Conway | New Zealand | 52 runs (Match Winner) |
| Trent Boult | New Zealand | 3 wickets |
| Vriitya Aravind | UAE | 38 runs |
| Junaid Siddique | UAE | 2 wickets |
🇳🇿 New Zealand Playing XI
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Mitchell Santner (c) | Bowling Allrounder |
| Tim Seifert (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Finn Allen | Batter |
| Rachin Ravindra | Batting Allrounder |
| Glenn Phillips | Batting Allrounder |
| Mark Chapman | Batter |
| Daryl Mitchell | Batting Allrounder |
| James Neesham | Batting Allrounder |
| Matt Henry | Bowler |
| Lockie Ferguson | Bowler |
| Jacob Duffy | Bowler |
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates Playing XI
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Muhammad Waseem (c) | Opening Batter |
| Aryansh Sharma (wk) | Wicketkeeper Batter |
| Alishan Sharafu | Batting Allrounder |
| Mayank Kumar | Batter |
| Sohaib Khan | Batter |
| Harshit Kaushik | Bowling Allrounder |
| Muhammad Arfan | Bowler |
| Dhruv Parashar | Batting Allrounder |
| Haider Ali | Bowler |
| Junaid Siddique | Bowler |
| Muhammad Rohid Khan | Bowler |
Last Thoughts
New Zealand showed the world why they are one of the best contenders in the shortest format of cricket. Their balanced team, strong leadership, and experience ensured the comfortable win for them. UAE started on a promising note but never had that firepower to push a team like NZ. The two teams would now look forward to building momentum as the tournament progresses, with NZ seeking an entry into the knockout phase while UAE desires an upset in the future matches.
