The UAE were given a stark reality check at the start of the T20 World Cup as they were thrashed by New Zealand.
The national team entered the tournament at a low ebb, with a miserable run of form and player indiscipline clouding the build up.
They started the even with one player loss in their squad than all other teams, after Mohammed Zohaib was thrown out in the days preceding their first game.
And yet when they took the field at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai, they briefly enjoyed some moments of cheer.
First, Muhammed Waseem won the toss, and opted to have first use of a pristine wicket.
Then the captain and Alishan Sharafu, his young deputy, were able to cast aside the bad vibes with an impressive alliance for the second wicket.
The duo shared 107 in just over 13 overs, laying the platform for UAE’s total of 173-6 from their 20 overs. Each lodged milestones: Waseem was not out on 66 at the end, while Sharafu made 55 from 47 balls.
The good cheer did not last long, though, as New Zealand’s openers savaged the UAE bowlers.
The UAE had become the first non-Test nation to beat New Zealand, in a T20I in Dubai back in 2023. The idea that a repeat could be possible was quickly scotched by Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.
The openers were in destructive form as they carried their side to the victory with an unbroken partnership for the first wicket.
Each carried their bats; Seifert blazed 89 in 42 balls and Allen finished on 84 in 50 deliveries in what was the highest for any wicket in a men's T20 World Cup.
UAE will now attempt to pick themselves up ahead of their next game against Canada on Friday in Delhi. “We were short by 15-20 runs, but we also need to step up as a bowling team,” admitted captain Waseem.
“The surface was very good. We have to look after the bowling and our variations. We need to execute our plans. We need to do that. This is past for us now. [But] we will take the few positives with the bat.”
It was a flawless victory for New Zealand with Seifert and Allen's partnership breaking the previous mark of 170 held by England's Jos Buttler and Alex Hales in a 10-wicket win over India in 2022.
The Black Caps – who defeated Afghanistan by five wickets in their opening match which saw Seifert hit 65 – will now face South Africa in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
“Credit to UAE, they batted very well, sussed out the conditions well,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner. “But we batted well. It was a better wicket than the other day [against Afghanistan].
“Once we understood the conditions, the bowlers did well … They used the pace nicely and the death phase from the seamers was great.”
