South Africa continued their flawless run in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding 6-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday, February 18. Winning the toss, the Proteas elected to field first and made four changes to their lineup, but their dominance with both bat and ball remained clear.
UAE got off to a strong start thanks to Muhammad Waseem and Aryansh Sharma, adding 30 runs in the first three overs. However, after losing early wickets, including Waseem and Aryansh, the innings slowed down. Corbin Bosch starred with the ball, picking up three crucial wickets for just 12 runs in his four-over spell, restricting UAE to 122/6 in 20 overs. Alishan Sharafu fought valiantly, scoring 45 runs, but lacked support from other batters.
South Africa’s fielding showed some lapses, with four dropped chances, something captain Aiden Markram openly criticized post-match. Despite this, the chase was never in serious doubt. Dewald Brevis led the batting effort with a quick 36 off 25 balls, while Markram contributed with aggressive strokes before being dismissed. The partnership between Brevis and Rickleton, along with steady contributions from Stubbs and Jason Smith, helped South Africa reach 123/4 in just 13.2 overs, sealing a comfortable 6-wicket win.
The victory keeps South Africa unbeaten in the group stage, setting them up for a high-profile Super 8 clash against defending champions India in Ahmedabad. While the team has shown firepower and consistency, Markram emphasized the need for a big individual score in the upcoming matches to strengthen their chances further.
With their momentum intact, the Proteas remain one of the strongest contenders for the T20 World Cup 2026 title, demonstrating a balanced combination of batting depth and bowling aggression.
