South Africa’s six-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in the 34th Match, Group D, of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, was shaped less by power and more by control.
After choosing to bowl on February 18, 2026, they limited UAE to 122/6 through disciplined middle-overs execution, with Corbin Bosch’s 3/12 breaking the innings at critical points.
In reply, Aiden Markram’s 28 off 11 balls front-loaded the chase, and the middle order ensured South Africa reached 123/4 in 13.2 overs, finishing the job with 40 balls to spare.
Match Details

| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa vs United Arab Emirates, 34th Match, Group D |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Date | February 18, 2026 |
| Result | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| United Arab Emirates | 122/6 (20 overs) |
| South Africa | 123/4 (13.2 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Corbin Bosch (3/12) |
| Toss | South Africa won the toss and elected to bowl |
United Arab Emirates Innings – 122/6 (20 Overs)
UAE reached 44 in the mandatory powerplay but lost momentum once the field spread. Muhammad Waseem struck 22 off 12 balls with four boundaries before falling lbw to George Linde. Aryansh Sharma added 13, but early breakthroughs disrupted continuity.
Alishan Sharafu anchored the innings with 45 off 38 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six. However, support remained limited. Sohaib Khan and Syed Haider could not convert starts, and wickets fell at regular intervals, including Sharafu’s dismissal in the 18th over with the score at 112.
Corbin Bosch controlled the middle overs with a decisive spell of 3/12 from four overs, removing Aryansh Sharma, Sohaib Khan, and Muhammad Arfan. Anrich Nortje claimed 2/28, while Linde finished with 1/17, restricting UAE to 122/6 at a run rate of 6.1.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Alishan Sharafu | 45 (38 balls) |
| UAE | Muhammad Waseem | 22 (12 balls) |
| South Africa | Corbin Bosch | 3/12 (4 overs) |
| South Africa | Anrich Nortje | 2/28 (4 overs) |
South Africa Innings – 123/4 (13.2 Overs)
South Africa began aggressively. Aiden Markram struck 28 off 11 balls, including five fours and a six, pushing the score to 32 inside three overs before being bowled by Haider Ali. Quinton de Kock added 14 but fell in the powerplay, leaving South Africa 56/2 after 5.4 overs.
Ryan Rickelton maintained momentum with 30 off 16 balls, clearing the boundary twice. Dewald Brevis accelerated through the middle overs, scoring 36 off 25 balls with three sixes. Their partnership lifted South Africa past 100 runs in 11 overs, reducing the chase to a routine chase.
UAE claimed four wickets, including Rickelton and Brevis in quick succession, but the required rate had dropped significantly. Tristan Stubbs (6*) and Jason Smith (3*) completed the chase at 123/4 in 13.2 overs, confirming a six-wicket win.
| Team | Player | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Dewald Brevis | 36 (25 balls) |
| South Africa | Ryan Rickelton | 30 (16 balls) |
| UAE | Muhammad Arfan | 1/16 (2 overs) |
| UAE | Muhammad Jawadullah | 1/20 (2 overs) |
