It was a massive day of action at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with six teams facing off across India and Sri Lanka. While Pakistan settled a high-profile score in Colombo, the UAE faced a New Zealand masterclass in Chennai, and the Netherlands notched their first win of the campaign.
New Zealand Storm Past UAE
The Result: New Zealand (175/0) beat UAE (173/6) by 10 wickets.
The UAE put up a spirited fight with the bat in Chennai, but they ran into a New Zealand opening pair that looked absolutely invincible.
- UAE Heroics: Captain Muhammad Waseem led from the front with an unbeaten 66 off 45, while Alishan Sharafu contributed a stylish 55. Their 107-run stand became the second-highest second-wicket partnership for the UAE in T20Is.
- The Chase: Chasing 174, Tim Seifert (89*) and Finn Allen (84*) were relentless. Their 175-run stand now holds the record for the highest partnership for any wicket in Men’s T20 World Cup history.
- The Standings: This second successive win sees the Black Caps climb to the top of Group D.
Pakistan Make it Two in Two
The Result: Pakistan (190/9) beat USA (158) by 32 runs.
In a rematch of the 2024 Super Over thriller, the Salman Agha-led Pakistan side ensured there would be no repeat upset.
- The Foundation: Sahibzada Farhan was the anchor for Pakistan, smashing 73 off 41 balls. Despite a late-innings collapse where they lost five wickets in just 10 balls, Pakistan posted a daunting 190.
- The Defense: USA’s chase started well, but Pakistan’s spin department took control. Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq dismantled the middle order, leaving the USA 32 runs short despite a resilient 49 from Shayan Jahangir.
Dutch Delight Against Namibia
The Result: Netherlands (159/3) beat Namibia (156/8) by 7 wickets.
Bas de Leede proved to be the difference-maker, guiding the Netherlands to their first victory of the 2026 tournament.
- All-Round Show: After taking two wickets to help restrict Namibia to 156, De Leede steered the chase with a superb unbeaten 72 off 48 balls.
- Clinical Finish: The Dutch reached the target with two overs to spare, making a tricky pitch look easy.
