T20 World Cup: uae vs south africa — Proteas cruise into Super 8s with commanding win
South Africa fine-tuned their preparations for the Super 8s with a dominant six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in their final Group D match in Delhi. The Proteas chased down 123 with 40 balls to spare, advancing to the next stage with a perfect four-from-four record while the UAE exited the tournament after an encouraging but ultimately insufficient effort.
UAE innings — Sharafu struggles to convert as wickets fall
The UAE put together 122 for 6 from their 20 overs, a total that never looked like troubling the South African chase. Aryansh Sharma and captain Muhammad Waseem provided a steady start, contributing 13 and 22 respectively before Corbin Bosch and George Linde made early inroads. The innings depended largely on Alishan Sharafu, who top-scored with 45 off 38 balls but fell five runs short of what would have been his second half-century of the competition.
With wickets falling at regular intervals, the lower middle order could not accelerate in the final overs; the UAE managed only 20 runs across the last four overs. Bosch finished with tidy figures of 3 for 12, anchoring a disciplined spell that kept the scoring in check and left the total below par on a pitch that offered enough pace and bounce for disciplined bowling to flourish.
Proteas reply — fast start and clinical finish
South Africa rested several frontline players, making four changes to the lineup, and elected to chase after winning the toss. Rain briefly interrupted the contest at the innings break, with covers coming on before the restart, but when play resumed the chase was brief and emphatic.
Captain Aiden Markram set the tone with a blistering 11-ball 28, providing immediate momentum. Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis steadied the innings; Brevis finished with 36 off 25 deliveries, ensuring the required run-rate never became an issue. The Proteas reached 123 for 4 in the 14th over, with the finishing touch arriving well before the allotted overs were close to exhausted. Left-arm seamer Arfan Khan was the only UAE bowler to make a notable impact, finishing with figures of 1 for 16.
The comprehensive chase underlined South Africa's depth: even with several regulars rested, the batting lineup combined aggression and smart risk management to dismantle a modest target. The early impetus provided by Markram and the measured contributions of Rickelton and Brevis removed any late-tournament rust and gave the team confidence heading into the Super 8s.
Implications and immediate takeaways
The result seals South Africa's place in the Super 8s as Group D winners, maintaining an unblemished group-stage record. Their measured victory will be read as a positive sign: the side can rotate personnel and still produce a dominant performance. For the UAE, the match leaves mixed feelings. There were moments of promise — Sharafu's top score and sporadic good bowling — but the team lacked the sustained hitting needed to post a competitive total on a surface that rewarded disciplined bowling.
Beyond the scoreboard, the weather interruption offered a reminder of tournament variables that can alter momentum, but in this case the delay did little to derail the visitors' plans. South Africa can now shift focus to the Super 8s with momentum and a largely fit squad, while the UAE will regroup and reflect on lessons from a campaign that featured a win earlier in the group stage but ultimately ended in elimination.
With confidence high and options to rotate, the Proteas will be among the teams to watch as the competition moves into its next phase.
