South Africa vs United Arab Emirates Highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: South Africa beat UAE by 6 wickets

Kwena Maphaka to Muhammad Arfan, Back of a length and outside off, guided away down to deep third for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, DROPPED! Oh, almost brilliant teamwork in the deep but it goes down. Short ball at the body, Alishan Sharafu is unable to back away and just scoops it around the corner on the leg side. Anrich Nortje at deep fine moves to his left and pouches the ball but it seems to be going over the ropes. He sees Jason Smith running towards him from deep backward square leg and flicks it back but the flick is very firm and Smith is unable to hold on. He was a bit too close to take the catch. Single taken.

Kwena Maphaka to Muhammad Arfan, Good length outside off, tapped away behind point for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Muhammad Arfan, FIVE WIDES! Wayward from Maphaka. He looks for the yorker at the toes but ends up darting a full toss down the leg side. No chance for the keeper to collect it and the ball rolls away into the fine leg fence.

Kwena Maphaka to Muhammad Arfan, Swing and a miss! Dug in quick and short, outside off, Muhammad Arfan tries to take it on but misses by a long way.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, Good length angled across off, Sharafu dabs it down to short third for a single.

The UAE would want Alishan to bat till the end if they are to get anywhere close to 150.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR! Hammered away! Dug in short over middle and leg, Alishan Sharafu rocks back and muscles the pull, flat and wide of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Anrich Nortje to Alishan Sharafu, Risky but effective running. Pushes it full and on middle, Alishan Sharafu drives it straight to Aiden Markram at mid off, who has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. 5 runs and a wicket of Nortje's third over. 

Anrich Nortje to Muhammad Arfan, Shorter delivery on leg, Muhammad Arfan mistimes his pull shot to fine leg for a single.

DRINKS BREAK. The Proteas have done an excellent job of choking the run rate in this middle phase as they have kept picking wickets at regular intervals. The UAE haven’t been allowed to build any meaningful partnerships. 38/0 becomes 84/4. Alishan Sharafu has got a good start, but he needs stability from the other end to accelerate and finish strongly in the backend. In walks Muhammad Arfan at number 6.

Anrich Nortje to Syed Haider, OUT! TAKEN! Syed Haider was not at all in control of this shot. Actually, not in control of his innings. His struggle comes to an end. Anrich Nortje bumps it into the surface, extra pace behind it and the ball skids too. Syed Haider hurries as he tries to duck-pull but manages a top edge to square leg. Kwena Maphaka, inside the ring, runs behind and to his right to take a simple catch. 

Anrich Nortje to Alishan Sharafu, Goes full now, on middle, Alishan Sharafu drills it to long on for one more.

Anrich Nortje to Syed Haider, Drags his length back and bowls onto the bodyline. Syed Haider swipes and hits it to long on for one.

Anrich Nortje to Alishan Sharafu, Nortje bends his back and bowls into the surface at 141 clicks, outside off. Alishan Sharafu skips down and slashes his blade. He slices it to the right of the deep point fielder, who picks up on a bounce. A single.

Excellent spell from Linde, where spinners have got the least amount of help in this World Cup. 1/17 in 4 overs. Just 13 runs in the last 3 overs for the UAE. Anrich Nortje (2-0-18-0) returns. He replaces Rabada.

George Linde to Alishan Sharafu, Tosses it up, touch fuller and around off. Alishan Sharafu knocks it wide of cover and keeps the strike. Tidy stuff from South Africa so far.

George Linde to Syed Haider, Fractionally short and on middle, Syed Haider pulls it to the right of deep mid-wicket for a single.

George Linde to Syed Haider, Oh, well bowled! Linde sees Haider shuffle in his crease and serves it touch wide outside off. Syed Haider adjusts and pats it straight to cover.

George Linde to Syed Haider, An appeal for LBW, turned down! Slower in the air, flatter trajectory and on leg. It lands and spins away sharply. Syed Haider gets on his knee to sweep but misses. It was turning well past the stumps.

George Linde to Syed Haider, Nicely bowled! George Linde slows up the pace and gets it to turn away. This is outside off. Syed Haider leans across to push but misses.

George Linde (3-0-14-1) is back on to finish his spell.

George Linde to Alishan Sharafu, Floats it full and angling on middle, Sharafu prods and taps it in front of point and rotates the strike. 

Kagiso Rabada to Syed Haider, A solid bumper on middle and off. Syed Haider bends his back and tries to ride the pace but misses again. Kagiso Rabada, too hot to handle in this over.

Kagiso Rabada to Alishan Sharafu, On a nagging length, outside off. Alishan Sharafu dabs it to third man and runs across.

Kagiso Rabada to Alishan Sharafu, Beaten again! This is good stuff from KG! Keeps the stumps into play, hits the surface with a length delivery. Sharafu dances down the track and plays all over it.

Kagiso Rabada to Syed Haider, Goes a bit too full and on middle, Syed Haider eases it down to long on for a single.

Kagiso Rabada to Syed Haider, Kagiso Rabada hits the deck hard and serves it on middle, Syed Haider backs away, trying to guide it away but misses. The ball rolls over the middle pole. 

Kagiso Rabada (2-0-20-0) is back on.

Kagiso Rabada to Alishan Sharafu, On a good length and on middle, drifting in late. Sharafu turns it wide of mid-wicket for a single.

Kwena Maphaka to Syed Haider, On a nagging length, around off, it hits the deck and shoots up. Syed Haider dances down the track and swings across but misses.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, Touch fuller and around off, Sharafu comes down and makes room as he opens the off side. Hits it through covers for a single.

Ouch, that has banged Alishan Sharafu flush on the helmet. There will be a concussion check to follow and hopefully, Sharafu is fine. He looks okay but the helmet will be changed as well. Thankfully, everything seems fine and we are good to continue.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, FOUR LEG BYES! A nervous leave by Sharafu, but UAE do get a boundary. Bangs it short and on middle, extra pace and bounce. Sharafu charges ahead at first, but ducks under it, and gets hit on the helmet. The ball flies behind to the fine leg fence. Sharafu gives a thumbs-up but a concussion protocol will follow.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, Pitches it outside leg, slower delivery on a length. Alishan Sharafu looks to pull but misses and it brushes the hips as it rolls to the keeper. 

Kwena Maphaka to Syed Haider, Straighter delivery, length and on the pads. Syed Haider swivels and and plays it to deep square leg for one more.

Kwena Maphaka to Alishan Sharafu, Back of a length and on top of off. Alishan Sharafu steers it with the angle to deep third for a single.

Halfway mark in the first innings and after an erratic start, South Africa are on top of proceedings right now. Also, Kwena Maphaka is back into the attack. He went for 10 runs in his first over.

Corbin Bosch to Syed Haider, Keeps bashing the length hard, on middle, Syed Haider presses back, stays leg side and defends it back to the bowler. After 10 overs, UAE are 66/3.

Corbin Bosch to Syed Haider, Zips through the deck, short and over the top of off. Syed Haider feels for it at first, but opts to let it pass.

Corbin Bosch to Syed Haider, Shoots in a sharp bumper, over the stumps. Syed Haider ducks under it to let it fly back.

Corbin Bosch to Syed Haider, Cannons in full and outside off, Syed Haider drives it to deep backward point. Kwena Maphaka rushes to his right from deep third and dives to palm the ball in before crashing over the ropes. Two taken.

A rare failure for Sohaib Khan in this tournament and out walks the new batter. Syed Haider is in at number 5.

Corbin Bosch to Sohaib Khan, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Wicket number 2 for Corbin and the UAE are in a bit of bother. Bosch hits the deck hard again and the ball skids and nips away from the pitch with some bounce. Sohaib Khan stays put, fiddles at the delivery, hanging his bat loosely away from the body. Gets a thick, healthy outside edge and Quinton de Kock does the rest, taking the catch to his right. UAE are 64/3.

Corbin Bosch to Sohaib Khan, Hits the hard length, over off at 141.9 kph​​. Sohaib Khan presses back and punches it to the off side.

Spin is doing a decent job at the moment for the Proteas. Will Aiden Markram take a risk and bring himself on against the two right-handers? No, but he does bring Corbin Bosch back into the attack, replacing Anrich Nortje.

George Linde to Sohaib Khan, Too full, on leg, Sohaib Khan runs it down to long on for one more. 4 from it, and Linde's figures read 3-0-14-1.

George Linde to Alishan Sharafu, Not that full, on middle and leg, sliding in. Alishan Sharafu gets on his knee and paddles it to short fine leg for a single.

George Linde to Sohaib Khan, Offers more flight, full and on the leg stump. Sohaib Khan presses in front and dinks it to widish mid-wicket for a single.

George Linde to Sohaib Khan, On a length, flatter trajectory, on off, Sohaib Khan covers the line and blocks it back to Linde.