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T20 WC Updates: South Africa's pacers limit UAE to 122

Wed, 18 February 2026

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12:54

South Africa's pacers limit UAE to 122

UAE 122-6 (20 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

The rain has intensified a bit as the groundstaff bring out the covers at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

It was a struggle for the UAE batters, who after a quickfire, struggled against the South African pace battery, with all the four speedsters bowling above the 140kmph mark.

Alishan Sharafu, who made 45, was the only UAE batter to provide some resistance but he also copped a couple of blows of helmet. It was only because of Sharafu that UAE managed to get past the 100-run mark.

South Africa also have themselves to blame as they put down four catches in total.

Bosch was outstanding with the ball, taking 3/12 in four overs, while Nortje bagged 2/28.

12:43

South Africa's pacers limit UAE to 122

Corbin Bosch

UAE 122-6 (20 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Nortje comes back into the attack. South Africa finally take a catch but not without drama as Maphaka nearly collided with Rabada on the boundary but the former managed to safely pouch the ball.

Sharafu, who made 45 from 38 balls, top edged the pull shot as Maphaka ran back from midwicket and Rabada pulled out the last second to avoid the collision.

Nortje ends with good figures of 2/28 from his four overs.

UAE have managed just three boundaries in the last eight overs. Maphaka back into the attack as Arfan is beaten first ball before he manages just one to deep midwicket.

Dhruv Parashar clips the fourth ball for one and Arfan can only pull the short ball for another run.

Parashar slices the short ball fine on the off-side for just a single as Maphaka gives away just four runs in the 19th over.

Bosch to bowl the final over. He continues his wicket ways as Arfan pulls the short ball straight to deep midwicket to be dismissed for 11.

Just four runs from the over as UAE struggle to get a boundary in the final overs.

UAE finish on a disappointing 122/6 in their 20 overs.

12:28

Sharafu, Arfan take UAE past 100

UAE 109-4 (17 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Nortje comes back into the attack. Haider's struggling knock finally comes to an end.

He was swinging his bat at every delivery without any success. This time Nortje's pace and bounce is too hot to handle as Haider top edges the pull shot and is caught at midwicket after a struggling knock of six from 15 balls.

Maphaka back into the attack. Sharafu finally gets one off the middle as he pulls the first ball for a four -- the first boundary after a long wait of 39 balls.

Muhammad Arfan also continues the UAE's strategy of running down the wicket to the pacers as he gives Maphaka the charge but fails to connect.

The young pacer then bowls a big wide on the off-side to concede five extra runs.

Maphaka misses out on a wicket. Sharafu top edges the pull shot as the ball goes high towards fine leg where Nortje takes a good running catch but has to flick the ball as the momentum is taking him over the ropes.

He flicks it back to Jason Smith who is unable to react quickly and take the catch, leaving Maphaka disappointed.

Bosch comes back into the attack. Sharafu is struck on the helmet for the second time in the innings as he fails to connect with the pull shot.

Sharafu then gets a thick outside edge which goes high as Nortje runs in from thirdman but the balls falls short and goes through for a four to take UAE past 100 in the 16th over.

South Africa's fielding has been pretty shambolic in this match. They miss out on another chance. Left-hander Arfan comes down the track and looks to loft Rabada down the ground but has timed it completely.

But Bosch puts down a simple chance at mid-on as he takes the catch going back but loses the ball after he falls to the ground.

More pain for Rabada as Sharafu gets a thick outside edge off the last ball which flies fine for a four.

12:03

UAE's batters struggle; SA in control

UAE 79-3 (13 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Left-arm pacer Maphaka back into the attack. A well-disguised slower short ball from the young pacer as Sharafu misses the pull shot.

He comes down the track next ball as Sharafu coming down the track ducks under the bouncer which strikes the back of the helmet and goes fine for four leg byes.

He takes a single on the off-side before Haider comes down and has a big swing across the line but is beaten.

Rabada, who went for runs in his first spell, is back into the attack. Haider makes room to hit through the off-side but misses. His partner Sharaful uses his feet but he also fails to make contact with the ball.

A sharp rising delivery from Rabada as Haider is beaten once again trying to play the ramp shot as the pacer does well to concede just three runs.

Linde comes back to bowl his final over. Haider survives a leg before shout as he misses the sweep off the spinner.

He then makes room but can only push it to the fielder in the covers. Haider can't get hold of the slog sweep for just a single to deep midwicket.

It's been more than 5 overs since the last boundary was hit as UAE struggle to 79/3 in 13 overs.

Linde ends with tidy figures of 1/17 in four overs.

11:51

Corbin Bosch leaves UAE in a mess!

UAE 66-3 (10 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Nortje comes back into the attack. A full length delivery as Sharafu looks to drive but gets the thick outside edge which flies fine on the off-side for a four.

Sharafu jumps down the track next ball before he slashes the short wide ball from the pacer over point for a six and then takes one to get 12 from the over.

Spinner Linde continues to hold one end up. He keeps things tight as he gives away just four runs in his third over.

Bosch strikes again in his second over. The extra bounce does the trick as Sohaib (6) pushes at it, only to get the edge which is nicely held by wicketkeeper de Kock this time.

Syed Haider gets off the mark with two runs before he keeps out the last three balls.

Bosch has excellent figures of 2/4 in two overs with UAE reeling on 66/3 in 10 overs.

11:39

Aryansh out for 13; UAE lose 2nd wicket

UAE 48-2 (7 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Corbin Bosch also strikes in his first over. Aryansh (13) looks to pull the short ball over the leg side but ends up miscuing it high and is caught by Maphaka.

Two wickets in six balls as UAE slip to 42/2 in the sixth over.

The in-form Sohaib Khan gets off the mark with a single, with a flick through square leg.

Sharafu pushes at one away from his body and is beaten before he miscues the last ball but it falls safely for another single.

UAE have lost 2/14 in the three overs to be reduced to 44/2 in six overs.

Linde continues after the Powerplay. He sends down another tidy over, giving away just four singles in his second over.

11:27

Waseem out for 22; UAE lose early wicket

UAE 42-1 (5 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Pacer Anrich Nortje comes into the attack. Aryansh goes after a full delivery, getting it off the outside half through the covers for a four. He goes for the pull shot but can't get it off the middle before tapping a full toss on the leg side for one.

Waseem can only defend the yorker on the leg side for a single as Nortje makes a tidy start.

Spinner George Linde comes into the attack. He strikes in his first over with the wicket of Waseem, who goes across and attempts the slog sweep but misses and is trapped plumb LBW.

The UAE captain takes the review but the ball has struck in line and is going on to hit the leg stump as the decision stays.

Waseem walks back after an aggressive 22 from 12 balls.

Alishan Sharafu keeps out the first two balls he faces before he makes room to loft the spinner inside out over the covers for a four to get off the mark in style.

11:17

UAE off to flying start vs South Africa

UAE 30-0 (3 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Waseem goes on the attack against Rabada in his second over. He lofts the first ball over the fielder at mid-off for a four. The next ball is pulled back but Waseem manages to flat bat it over mid-on for another four.

Rabada goes full but drifts on the pads as Waseem glances it past short fine leg to complete a hat-trick of fours against one of the world's premier pace bowlers.

Rabada unlucky not to get a wicket off the last ball. Aryansh top-edges the pull shot as wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock has enough time to settle down under it, but he ends up dropping a simple catch.

UAE race to 30 for no loss in three overs, with Waseem hitting 20 from nine balls.

11:13

SA elect to bowl vs UAE, include Nortje

UAE 17-0 (2 ovs) vs SA | SCORECARD

Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem are the two openers for UAE, while Kagiso Rabada will open the bowling for South Africa.

Aryansh Sharma is beaten first ball on the outside edge before he misses out on the pull shot next ball with Rabada getting some sharp bounce.

Another bounce an this time Aryansh gets the top edge as the ball flies over the wicketkeeper for a six to get UAE off the mark.

Aryansh looking at all sea against Rabada's extra pace as he throws his bat at a wide delivery and is beaten before he plays and misses again off the next ball.

Left-armer Kwena Maphaka from the other end. He makes a wayward start with two successive wides before Waseem smashes a full delivery straight down the ground for a four.

He clips the next off his pads for two runs through square leg before taking one on the off-side.

Aryansh misses the flick as South Africa appeal for leg before which is turned down before they take the DRS. The ball has pitched outside the line of leg stump as the review is lost.

10:41

SA elect to bowl vs UAE, include Nortje

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has won the toss and elected to bowl against UAE in Delhi on Wednesday.

South Africa, who have already qualified for the Super 8s, have made as many as four changes.

Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje, George Linde and Jason Smith are included in the playing XI as South Africa try out their players from the bench.

'We will bowl first with a bit of rain around,' said Markram at the toss.

UAE have made one change as Aaron Malik comes into the team.

Check out the playing XIs:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (Captain), Quinton de Kock (w/k), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka.

UAE: Aryansh Sharma (w/k), Muhammad Waseem (Captain), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.

10:28

Focus on Brevis as South Africa take on UAE

Dewald Brevis

Welcome to the coverage of the T20 World Cup match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in Delhi on Wednesday.

Having already qualified for the Super 8s, South Africa will expect big-hitting youngster Dewald Brevis to regain his form against a struggling UAE in their inconsequential final Group D fixture.

South Africa are already through to the Super Eights with three wins, including a double Super Over cliffhanger against Afghanistan and a comprehensive seven-wicket thumping of New Zealand.

For the UAE, it will be an opportunity to test their skills against the likes of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, a bowling attack which they don't get to face often at the international level as most of the Proteas players ply their trade in SA20, which clashes with their ILT20.

For South Africa, the match against UAE will be an extended practice game in which they would look to bat first and make full use of a placid track on offer at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground.

In the top four, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton have all got at least one half-century in the three games so far but Brevis, with scores of 6, 23 and 21, hasn't exactly displayed his full potential.

Known as 'Baby AB' for batting similarities with the great AB de Villiers, Brevis' propensity to play irresponsible shots in between flashes of brilliance has proved to be a hindrance in taking the leap to the next level.

Even though the UAE attack doesn't even have bowlers with express pace, the belter at Kotla will give Brevis a chance to return to form before the big Super Eights game against India at Ahmedabad.

As far as changes in the playing eleven are concerned, it is unlikely that the batting set-up will be tinkered with but Markram might just want to rest his main fast bowlers Rabada and Ngidi, giving a chance to Anrich Nortje and teenager Kwena Maphaka.

UAE's key players

For UAE, the onus of scoring runs will be on former Jamia Milia Islamia student Sohaib Khan, who has already scored successive fifties in the tournament and has been their batting mainstay.

T20 WC Updates: South Africa's pacers limit UAE to 122

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