🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026:M34: SA vs UAE, Delhi 🏏 - Page 2

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Best of luck to both the teams!

Head-to-Head Record in T20s

This will mark the first-ever T20I meeting between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter: Aiden Markram

South African skipper Aiden Markram could be the best batter in the upcoming game against the UAE. The right-handed batter has amassed 150 runs in three innings, including a match-winning 86 notout against New Zealand. Notably, this was his second fifty of the tournament, and he will look to continue his form.

Probable Best Bowler: Lungi Ngidi

South African pacer Lungi Ngidi has been in exceptional touch in the ongoing tournament so far and is his team's best baller. With eight wickets in three innings, Ngidi currently occupies the second position in the list of highest wicket-takers. His four overs will be crucial as the Proteas looks to make it four-in-four.

Score Prediction

First to Bat

RSA

Powerplay: 30-40
Score : 180-200

UAE

Powerplay: 20-30
Score : 160-180

Match Prediction

South Africa enter this clash as clear favourites, with a squad brimming with depth and confidence. Their recent form across batting and bowling makes them a formidable opponent for the UAE, who will have to be at their absolute best. The Proteas are expected to dominate proceedings and finish the group stage unbeaten.

The Group of death has been decided - South Africa and New Zealand are through to the super Rights while UAE will go home after today's match. However, this is a big game for the latter, not often do they get chances to run shoulders with the big boys and every game counts in this WC. A surprise win will not just be a boost to their confidence level, but it will add vital icc points, all important going ahead to the next T20 cycle and eventually the qualification process for the 2028 WC. For South Africa, it's about sustaining the momentum and heading towards another tough group in the next round.

The league stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is nearing its finish line, with just a handful of games left to shape the final picture. Group D, often labelled the group of death, brings together the in-form South Africa and a spirited United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

With South Africa already qualified for the Super Eights, and this being their last league fixture, they will be keen to finish strong and go into the next stage with a positive momentum and spotless record. For the UAE, it is about testing themselves against a stronger Test-playing nation, to gain valuable experience at the biggest stage.

The journeys so far - South Africa will use this game as a polishing ground to get everything in sync before the real challenge begins. They have found ways to win in every possible fashion this league stage, be it a nail-biting finish, or a complete all-around performance. Or be it batting first or bowling first. And that double Super Over win against Afghanistan already has earned the title of a T20 World Cup classic, one that will be talked about for a long time. Now, they are coming off a very commanding win over New Zealand.

UAE, meanwhile, have shown they are not here just to make up the numbers. Barring the 10-wicket loss to New Zealand, they have played a fearless brand of cricket. A commanding win over Canada showcased their ability, while they ended up giving a real scare to Afghanistan, pushing them right to the edge before falling just short of pulling off a memorable win.

The three pillars of power - South Africa are operating on a different tangent altogether, and it shows in the way their engine room is humming like a well oiled machine. With the bat, the bulk of their success has been driven by the top order. Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, and skipper Aiden Markram have all piled on the runs, each crossing the three-figure mark in the tournament.

Markram, in particular, is riding a serious wave of form, coming off one of the finest knocks of his T20I career. His 86 was the catalyst behind South Africa blowing the Blackcaps aside with authority, whereas de Kock and Rickelton have both notched up a fifty each in this tournament, keeping the top order ticking and laying down solid platforms for the rest to build on.

However, with just 50 runs in three matches and two 20-plus scores, Dewald Brevis is averaging 16.66 at a strike rate of 119.04, numbers that feel well below the standards you would associate with a player of his calibre. He is long overdue for a more responsible, composed knock, rather than another start thrown away.

Speed guns in full flow - Pace and South Africa feel like a match made in heaven. Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen have been absolutely ruthless, whether it is with the new ball or at the death. Ngidi, in particular, has led the charge with the ball, topping the wicket charts for his side with eight scalps, including a four for and a three for. He has mixed up his pace with perfect execution.

Jansen, meanwhile, would have taken a massive boost in confidence from his four-wicket haul against a quality New Zealand lineup. Rabada, meanwhile, has been a touch uncharacteristically underwhelming. Although he signed off with an economy of 6.75 in the last game, he has managed just nine wickets in his last ten T20Is. South Africa would certainly want their most prolific bowler to step up and better that tally this time around.

One man show with the ball - Having lost both their matches while defending totals, UAE will be keen to tighten things up in the death overs, especially with the ball.

Junaid Siddique has stood a league apart from the rest of the attack, highlighted by his brilliant 5/35 against Canada. Even against Afghanistan, he picked up a couple of crucial wickets to keep his side in the contest till the very end. However, the drop off after him remains a concern, with the rest of the bowling unit struggling to maintain the same level of control and penetration.

Especially their spinners, including their frontline spinner Haider Ali, have been wicketless across three matches so far. Building blocks amid inconsistency - Batting-wise, it has been a case of feast or famine for captain Muhammad Waseem, with a 66 against New Zealand sandwiched between two low scores.

In the middle order, Alishan Sharafu has provided a steady presence, while Sohaib Khan's fluent 68 against Afghanistan offered a glimpse of his potential. For UAE, though, it ultimately boils down to how well they handle pressure situations against the quality bowling and batting units of the Test-playing nations.

The threat of rain looms over South Africa's final group stage game in the T20 World Cup 2026, but for a change, there is no jeopardy of weather-induced heartbreak for last year's finalists. They have won their three games so far, and already secured their spot in the Super Eight.
They will, however, want to keep up their winning habit, and go into the next round with a perfect record. The match against UAE will also see South Africa play their first game outside Ahmedabad this World Cup, so it will be a test for them in comparatively unfamiliar conditions.
The match will offer South Africa a chance to rotate, and also work on any potential weaknesses they may have identified so far.

They come up against a UAE side that showed plenty of fight in their last match against Afghanistan. Although it ended in defeat, Alishan Sharafu and Sohaib Khan's knocks, as well as their bowling display for most parts of Afghanistan's chase, will give them confidence.
That game was also a day match in Delhi, so UAE will feel they have a better grasp of the conditions.
They may not have qualification to play for, but a chance to end their campaign by slaying a giant will be ample motivation for UAE.

Form guide

South Africa: W W WL W (Last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
UAE: L W L L L

The anthems are done and we're just about ready to get this show on the road

South Africa have won the toss and elected to field.

Teams

UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah

Dhruv Parashar and Muhammad Farooq are in for Harshit Kaushik and Simranjeet Singh

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

Jason Smith, George Linde, Anrich Nortje and Kwena Maphaka are the changes for South Africa. David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi have been rested

Aryansh Sharma and Muhammad Waseem are at the crease. Aryansh Sharma is on strike. Kagiso Rabada will open the attack