South Africa make it 4 in a row, ease past UAE with 6-wkt win after resting 4 key players

South Africa didn't break a sweat as they eased past United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a six-wicket win in their last group stage clash of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Skipper Aiden Markram rested as many as four players — David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi —for the dead rubber clash. But Anrich Nortje and Corbin Bosch proved there is enough bench strength as the Proteas restricted UAE to a below par score of 122/6. They chased it down with six wickets in hand and 40 balls to spare.

UAE post below par total

Markram won the toss and opted to bowl first. Aryansh Sharma opened his account with a six off Kagiso Rabada. Kwena Maphaka went for 10 runs in his first over. Then, UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem hit Rabada for three consecutive fours. Sharma got an early reprieve as Quinton de Kock dropped a catch. George Linde was introduced into the attack and he delivered with Waseem's wicket. The captain scored 22 runs from 12 balls. Then Bosch ended Sharma's stay at the crease. The opener scored 13 runs from 17 balls. UAE were 44/2 after powerplay overs.

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In the 10th over, Bosch returned to dismiss Sohaib Khan for a single-digit score. Alishan Sharafu played the anchor role while Syed Haider struggled to rotate strike. In the 14th over, Nortje returned to end Haider's stay at the crease. He scored six runs from 15 balls. Sharafu missed his fifty as Nortje got him caught in the 18th over. He contributed with a 38-ball 45. In the last two overs, no boundary was scored and Bosch dismissed Muhammad Arfan for an 18-ball 11. The Proteas were set a target of 123. Bosch bowled four overs, conceded 12 runs and picked up three wickets.

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Easy run chase for Proteas

Dhruv Parashar started with an economical over but Junaid Siddique leaked plenty. Siddique conceded 13 runs from his first over. Then Markram hit Haider Ali for two fours and as many sixes before getting bowled for an 11-ball 28. The boundaries continued to flow. De Kock couldn't make the most of fielding restrictions. Muhammad Jawadullah dismissed De Kock for a 16-ball 14. South Africa were 56/2 after powerplay overs.

Dewald Brevis and Ryan Rickelton looked in a hurry to finish the run chase. In the 11th over, Rickelton hit Muhammad Farooq for a couple of sixes before departing for a 16-ball 30. In the next over, Brevis departed for a 25-ball 36. Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs dealt in singles as South Africa finished the run chase in 13.2 overs.

South Africa have been placed in Super 8's Group 1 alongside India, West Indies and Zimbabwe. South Africa’s next game is against India on February 22 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.