New Zealand continued their dominance in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 as they crushed UAE by 10 wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on February 10, marking their second consecutive victory. This win made the Black Caps the first team in the 2026 T20 World Cup to secure two back-to-back wins, keeping their momentum strong in Group D. The chase was defined by the sheer dominance of opening pair Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, who managed to overhaul a competitive target of 174 without losing a single wicket.
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Tim Seifert-Finn Allen script history with mammoth partnership
In the process of securing this ten-wicket win, Allen and Seifert etched their names into the history books by forging an unbeaten 175-run partnership. This incredible feat now stands as the highest partnership for any wicket in the history of the T20 World Cup. By reaching this milestone, the Kiwi duo surpassed the previous record of 170 runs set by England’s Jos Buttler and Alex Hales during their iconic semi-final victory against India in the 2022 edition of the tournament.
Batting duos to record highest partnerships in T20 World Cup:
| Cricketers | Team | Opponent Team | Runs | Year |
| Tim Seifert, Finn Allen | New Zealand | UAE | 175* | 2026 |
| Jos Buttler, Alex Hales | England | India | 170 | 2022 |
| Rilee Russouw, Quinton de Kock | South Africa | Bangladesh | 168 | 2022 |
| Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene | Sri Lanka | West Indies | 166 | 2010 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | Uganda | 154 | 2024 |
How did the match unfold?
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the UAE faced an early setback with the dismissal of Aryansh Sharma. However, captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu quickly shifted the momentum, launching a counter-attack against the New Zealand bowling unit. The pair shared a formidable 107-run partnership, with Waseem leading the charge with a top score of 66, while Sharafu contributed a solid 55. Despite their efforts, the UAE finished their 20 overs at 173/7, as Lockie Ferguson spearheaded the Kiwi attack by claiming three crucial wickets.
The pursuit of 174 proved to be a straightforward task for the New Zealand openers, who dismantled the UAE's defense with ease. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert were in sublime form, chasing down the target without losing a single wicket and with 28 balls to spare. Seifert finished as the high-scorer of the duo with 86 runs, while Allen remained unbeaten on 84, capping off a thoroughly dominant win for the Black Caps.