New Zealand thrashed the United Arab Emirates by 10 wickets with about five overs to spare, setting a new T20 World Cup record partnership of 175 between Finn Allen and Tim Seifert in Chennai on Tuesday.
Seifert hit an unbeaten 89 and Allen scored 84 not out as they hammered the UAE bowling to every corner of the field in an uninterrupted opening stand as they chased down the UAE’s 173-6. The opening duo scored their century stand in only 8.3 overs after smashing 78 off the first six-over power play.
Seifert blasted 12 fours and one of his three massive sixes to end the match in just 15.2 overs. Allen scored five fours and five sixes.
They eclipsed the previous mark for any wicket at a T20 World Cup, which was set by England openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales in the 2022 tournament’s semi-final match against India at the Adelaide Oval, which was 170.
“The main thing is that we’re playing how we want to play, especially me and Finn putting pressure on the bowlers in the power play. Every game’s going to be a little bit different, every ground’s going to be different. So in a World Cup, you’ve just got to be able to adapt to the conditions you’re playing in,” AFP quoted Seifert, who was named player of the match, as saying.
Seifert claimed he was not aware that the two had set a new partnership record for any wicket at the World Cup.
“No, I didn’t know that,” he said. “I’m not much of a stats guy, but look, we’ll take it.”
Muhammad Waseem, the captain, was significantly responsible for the UAE’s 173-6. Waseem and Alishan Sharafu put on 107 for the second wicket after deciding to bat first.
It required an incredible fielding performance from New Zealand to end the partnership. Mark Chapman completed the dismissal by relaying the ball to Daryl Mitchell after intercepting a Sharafu slog-sweep just inside the boundary.
Waseem, 31, one of just three UAE players from the 2022 T20 World Cup, hit four fours and three sixes in a 45-ball innings.
