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Join our Fantasy SRP leagueBlackcaps openers smash T20 World Cup record in rout of UAE
AP • February 11th, 2026 8:12 am
Tim Seifert & Finn Allen | Photo: AP
Blackcaps openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen have rewritten the Twenty20 World Cup record books, pummelling the United Arab Emirates' bowling attack in a stunning 10-wicket victory in Chennai.
The duo chased down UAE's competitive target of 174 with more than four overs to spare on Tuesday, their unbeaten partnership of 175 eclipsing the record for the highest stand for any wicket at the men's T20 World Cup.
Seifert finished unbeaten on 89 and Allen on 84 as New Zealand romped home in just 15.2 overs to top group D with a display of power-hitting that left UAE's bowlers shell-shocked.
New Zealand raced to 0-78 in the opening powerplay, with Seifert and Allen dispatching the ball to all corners of the ground.
Finn Allen | Photo: AP
Although spinner Haider Ali managed to stem the flow with just eight runs from his first two overs, fast bowlers Muhammad Rohid and Junaid Siddique had no such luck as the openers attacked them when they bowled length deliveries.
Seifert reached his half-century in 23 balls -- his second half-century of the tournament after his 65 against Afghanistan -- and Allen matched him shot for shot as the pair guided New Zealand to the finish line.
The demolition job was completed in emphatic fashion when Seifert smashed a six down the ground.
Blackcaps head coach Rob Walter on facing the India T20 machine | Millsy & Guy
Earlier, UAE captain Muhammad Waseem had given his team hope with an unbeaten 66 after winning the toss.
Despite losing opener Aryansh Sharma early when he skyed a short Jacob Duffy delivery to long leg, Waseem and Alishan Sharafu rebuilt with a 107-run partnership off 77 balls.
Sharafu made 55 before falling to a spectacular boundary catch, where Mark Chapman leapt and caught the ball but as he fell over the boundary he quickly tossed it into the hands of Glenn Phillips.
Waseem reached his fifty in 37 balls and Phillips conceded 27 in the 18th over, but New Zealand stemmed the flow of runs with three wickets at the death to restrict UAE to 6-173.
