DELHI, 18 February 2026 – South Africa has maintained its dominant form in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, restricting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to a modest total in their final Group D fixture at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. After winning the toss and electing to bowl, the Proteas’ pace attack proved too clinical for the Emirati top order, despite a late rain delay threatening to interrupt the proceedings.
Match Summary: UAE Set Target of 123
The United Arab Emirates struggled to find momentum against a disciplined South African bowling unit. The Proteas struck early in the Powerplay, removing key openers to leave the UAE reeling. Aryansh Sharma (6) and Muhammad Waseem (7) were unable to provide the explosive start required against the tournament favourites.
A middle-order recovery led by Sohaib Khan, who top-scored with a resilient 68, and Alishan Sharafu (40) provided some respectability to the scorecard. The pair shared an 84-run partnership for the third wicket before the South African seamers, led by Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen, regained control. The UAE eventually finished their 20 overs at 122/6. As the innings closed, a light drizzle brought the covers onto the field, momentarily pausing the start of the South African chase.
Head-to-Head Statistics
Prior to this encounter, South Africa and the UAE had never met in the T20 International format. Their historical competitive history is limited to the One Day International (ODI) arena, most notably during the 2015 World Cup.
| Format | Total Matches | South Africa Wins | UAE Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20 International | 1* | 0 | 0 | In Progress |
| ODI | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
*Current match on 18 February 2026 is the first T20I meeting between the two nations.
Key Player Performances
The South African bowling attack has been the standout feature of their Group D campaign. Heading into this match, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen had already accounted for 15 of the 22 wickets taken by the team in the tournament. In today’s fixture, they continued this trend, applying pressure from the opening over.
For the UAE, the performance of Sohaib Khan remains a silver lining. His half-century against one of the world’s most feared bowling attacks highlights the growing competitiveness of associate nations, even as the UAE faces elimination from the tournament following previous losses.
Tournament Implications
South Africa has already secured its place in the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, remaining unbeaten throughout the group phase. This match serves as a final tune-up for the Proteas before the competition intensifies. Conversely, the UAE enters this match already eliminated from progression, playing for pride and the opportunity to claim a historic scalp against a Tier-1 cricketing nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the UAE ever beaten South Africa in cricket?
No. In their limited competitive history, South Africa has won every completed match against the UAE across all formats.
Where is the SA vs UAE T20 World Cup match being played?
The match is taking place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, India.
Who won the toss in today’s match?
South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first.
What was the UAE’s final score?
The UAE finished their innings at 122/6 after 20 overs, setting a target of 123 for South Africa.