The uae vs sa clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 brought together an emerging United Arab Emirates side and a powerful South African team at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. What began as a competitive UAE batting effort ultimately became a comfortable chase for the Proteas.
South Africa defeated the United Arab Emirates by six wickets, chasing 123 in only 13.2 overs after restricting UAE to 122/6 from 20 overs. Corbin Bosch was Player of the Match for an outstanding 3/12, while Alishan Sharafu top-scored for UAE with 45.
uae vs sa Match Summary
The match was the 34th fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and took place on February 18 at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. South Africa elected to field first and successfully controlled most of the UAE innings before completing the chase with 40 balls remaining.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | UAE vs South Africa |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Match number | 34 |
| Group | Group D |
| Date | February 18, 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| UAE score | 122/6 in 20 overs |
| South Africa score | 123/4 in 13.2 overs |
| Result | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| Balls remaining | 40 |
| Player of the Match | Corbin Bosch |
| Bosch’s figures | 3/12 in 4 overs |
The result maintained South Africa’s unbeaten record through the group stage and sent them into the Super Eight with momentum.
Quick takeaway: UAE had a promising start and a solid innings from Sharafu, but South Africa’s bowlers prevented the batting side from building enough momentum. Once the target was limited to 123, South Africa’s aggressive top and middle order made the chase relatively straightforward.
UAE Innings: From a Fast Start to 122/6
UAE’s innings can essentially be divided into two parts: an encouraging opening and a prolonged slowdown.
Muhammad Waseem provided early attacking intent, scoring 22 from 12 balls, including four boundaries. Alongside Aryansh Sharma, he helped UAE reach 36 without loss after four overs.
South Africa then changed the shape of the innings.
Waseem fell at 38, and Aryansh Sharma was dismissed shortly afterward for 13. UAE finished the mandatory six-over Powerplay on 44/2, leaving the middle order with rebuilding work to do.
Alishan Sharafu Holds the Innings Together
Alishan Sharafu played UAE’s most substantial innings.
He made 45 from 38 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six. His innings mattered because wickets were falling around him and scoring became increasingly difficult against South Africa’s varied attack.
Sharafu was eventually dismissed with UAE at 112/5 in the 18th over.
His 45 represented more than a third of the team’s total and comfortably made him UAE’s leading scorer.
The UAE batting card illustrates the problem:
| UAE batter | Runs | Balls | Strike rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alishan Sharafu | 45 | 38 | 118.42 |
| Muhammad Waseem | 22 | 12 | 183.33 |
| Aryansh Sharma | 13 | 17 | 76.47 |
| Muhammad Arfan | 11 | 18 | 61.11 |
| Sohaib Khan | 6 | 11 | 54.55 |
| Syed Haider | 6 | 15 | 40.00 |
| Dhruv Parashar | 5* | 7 | 71.43 |
| Muhammad Farooq | 1* | 2 | 50.00 |
UAE received 13 extras but still finished with only 122/6.
Why UAE Struggled to Accelerate
The biggest issue was the lack of sustained acceleration after the opening partnership.
UAE moved from 38/0 to 42/2, and South Africa continued applying pressure through the middle overs. Sohaib Khan made six from 11 balls, while Syed Haider scored six from 15.
Sharafu prevented a collapse, but UAE couldn’t create the partnerships or boundary frequency needed for a more imposing T20 total.
They reached 100 in 15.5 overs but added only another 22 runs from the final 25 deliveries.
Against a batting lineup containing Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis, that left very little margin for error.
Corbin Bosch Was the Difference in uae vs sa
The standout individual performance came from Corbin Bosch.
Bosch finished with:
4 overs, 12 runs, 3 wickets, economy 3.00.
Those figures are exceptional in T20 cricket, particularly because he bowled four overs without conceding a wide or no-ball. He also delivered 16 dot balls.
His wickets included Aryansh Sharma, Sohaib Khan and Muhammad Arfan.
Bosch did more than take wickets. His economy rate prevented UAE from finding momentum at crucial stages of the innings.
The ICC described his spell as central to South Africa’s fightback after UAE had reached 36/0 from their opening four overs.
South Africa’s Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbin Bosch | 4 | 12 | 3 | 3.00 |
| George Linde | 4 | 17 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Anrich Nortje | 4 | 28 | 2 | 7.00 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 4 | 30 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Kwena Maphaka | 4 | 30 | 0 | 7.50 |
Bosch received most of the attention, but George Linde was equally valuable from an economy perspective. His four overs cost only 17 runs, and he removed the dangerous Waseem.
Anrich Nortje added two wickets, dismissing Sharafu and Syed Haider.
That combination of Bosch’s wickets, Linde’s control and Nortje’s pace made it difficult for UAE to construct a late surge.
South Africa’s Chase of 123
Rain delayed the start of South Africa’s innings, but the interruption did little to disrupt their approach.
The Proteas attacked early rather than allowing UAE to create pressure around a relatively modest target.
Captain Aiden Markram scored 28 from only 11 balls, hitting five fours and one six.
His strike rate of more than 250 immediately brought the required run rate down.
UAE did manage an early breakthrough when Haider Ali bowled Markram, and Quinton de Kock was subsequently dismissed for 14.
South Africa nevertheless finished the Powerplay at 56/2.
At that point, they needed only another 67 runs.
Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis Take Control
Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis ensured there would be no serious comeback.
The pair added a 49-run partnership, moving South Africa close to the target.
Rickelton scored 30 from 16 balls, including three fours and two sixes, while Brevis made 36 from 25, with one four and three sixes.
Their contrasting strengths worked well.
Rickelton maintained the fast tempo established by Markram, while Brevis provided the substantial middle-order contribution needed to finish the chase.
South Africa reached 100 in 10.3 overs.
Although both Rickelton and Brevis were dismissed before the winning runs, Tristan Stubbs and Jason Smith completed the job.
South Africa finished on 123/4 after 13.2 overs, winning with 40 deliveries unused.
uae vs sa Full Score Comparison
The final numbers show where South Africa established control.
| Category | UAE | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 122/6 | 123/4 |
| Overs used | 20.0 | 13.2 |
| Run rate | 6.10 | 9.23 |
| Highest scorer | Alishan Sharafu – 45 | Dewald Brevis – 36 |
| Powerplay score | 44/2 | 56/2 |
| Result | Lost | Won by 6 wickets |
South Africa scored at more than nine runs per over during the chase, compared with UAE’s 6.10 runs per over.
That difference is a useful summary of the contest.
UAE were able to preserve wickets for much of their innings but struggled to turn possession into enough runs. South Africa were much more aggressive once they had the bat.
What Were the Main Turning Points?
Several moments shaped the result, but three stand out.
1. UAE Lost Both Openers in Quick Succession
At 36/0 after four overs, UAE had created a useful foundation.
Soon afterward, Waseem and Aryansh were both gone. UAE reached only 44/2 by the end of the Powerplay.
Instead of using the opening partnership as a platform for acceleration, they were forced into rebuilding mode.
2. Bosch Shut Down the Middle and Late Overs
Bosch’s 3/12 prevented UAE from finding easy scoring opportunities.
His spell was particularly damaging because he combined wicket-taking with an economy rate of only three runs per over.
In a 20-over innings, conceding just 12 from a full allocation of four overs dramatically increases the pressure on batters to attack the other bowlers.
3. Markram Attacked Immediately
Defending 122 required UAE to create early pressure.
Markram did the opposite.
His 28 from 11 balls gave South Africa a rapid start, and even his dismissal couldn’t restore enough scoreboard pressure because the required rate had already fallen.
Rickelton and Brevis then turned that advantage into a comfortable chase.
How Did the UAE Bowlers Perform?
The final result should not obscure the fact that UAE took four South African wickets.
Haider Ali removed Markram, Muhammad Jawadullah dismissed Quinton de Kock, Muhammad Farooq accounted for Rickelton, and Muhammad Arfan dismissed Brevis.
Their bowling figures were:
| UAE bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhruv Parashar | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Junaid Siddique | 2.2 | 23 | 0 |
| Haider Ali | 3 | 33 | 1 |
| Muhammad Jawadullah | 2 | 20 | 1 |
| Muhammad Arfan | 2 | 16 | 1 |
| Muhammad Farooq | 2 | 19 | 1 |
The difficulty was that the target offered virtually no room for a costly over.
South Africa could continue attacking despite losing wickets because the required run rate remained manageable.
Quick takeaway: UAE’s four wickets were useful, but South Africa had already scored quickly enough that individual breakthroughs did not create sustained pressure.
Who Was Player of the Match in UAE vs South Africa?
Corbin Bosch was named Player of the Match for his 3/12 from four overs.
The award reflected how strongly his spell influenced the game.
Alishan Sharafu’s 45 was the highest individual score in UAE’s innings, while Brevis led South Africa with 36. Yet Bosch’s ability to combine wickets with extraordinary economy fundamentally restricted the target South Africa eventually had to chase.
His 16 dot balls meant UAE failed to score from two-thirds of his deliveries.
For a bowler completing his full quota in a T20 World Cup match, that level of control is significant.
What the Match Meant for South Africa
This wasn’t simply another group-stage victory.
South Africa completed their group campaign unbeaten and advanced to the Super Eight following the six-wicket win.
The broader strength of the squad was also visible.
The original South African World Cup group contained established players such as Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje, alongside Brevis, Bosch, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde and others.
For this particular match, South Africa were able to rest Jansen, Maharaj and Ngidi while still producing a convincing performance.
That allowed other members of the squad to contribute without significantly weakening the side.
What UAE Can Take From the Match
A six-wicket defeat with 40 balls remaining looks decisive, but UAE still had positive passages.
Waseem’s opening attack demonstrated that they could score quickly against international pace. Sharafu then showed the temperament to construct an innings after early wickets.
Their bowlers also dismissed four South African batters rather than allowing a wicketless chase.
The central lesson was tempo.
Against a team with South Africa’s batting depth, simply reaching the end of 20 overs with wickets available isn’t enough. UAE needed greater scoring output through the middle and final overs.
Their progression tells the story:
- 36/0 after four overs
- 44/2 after the Powerplay
- 82/4 after 13.4 overs
- 100 runs reached after 15.5 overs
- 122/6 after 20 overs
The early platform was there. The conversion wasn’t.
UAE vs South Africa: Key Performers
Alishan Sharafu — 45 from 38
Sharafu was UAE’s leading batter and kept the innings together after the opening wickets. His five fours and one six accounted for a significant portion of UAE’s boundary scoring.
Corbin Bosch — 3/12
Bosch produced the match-defining bowling performance. Three wickets, 16 dot balls and an economy rate of 3.00 made him the clear standout.
Aiden Markram — 28 from 11
Markram ensured the chase never became uncomfortable. His early assault pushed South Africa well ahead of the required rate.
Ryan Rickelton — 30 from 16
Rickelton continued the aggressive approach, striking three fours and two sixes.
Dewald Brevis — 36 from 25
Brevis finished as South Africa’s highest scorer and shared the important 49-run partnership with Rickelton that effectively settled the contest.
Final uae vs sa Result
The uae vs sa T20 World Cup 2026 match ended with South Africa defeating the United Arab Emirates by six wickets at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
UAE’s 122/6 was built around Alishan Sharafu’s 45, but Corbin Bosch’s brilliant 3/12 prevented them from posting a more challenging target. South Africa responded with an aggressive chase led by Markram, Rickelton and Brevis, reaching 123/4 in just 13.2 overs.
The match ultimately came down to two clear differences: South Africa restricted scoring far more effectively with the ball, then maintained a much higher tempo with the bat. For anyone checking the uae vs sa result, the headline numbers are simple: UAE 122/6, South Africa 123/4, South Africa won by six wickets with 40 balls remaining.