T20 World Cup: South Africa beat UAE by 6 wickets 

New Delhi (Web Desk): South Africa finished their group-stage campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on a high, remaining unbeaten after a six-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday. The Proteas chased down the UAE’s modest total of 123 with ease, losing just four wickets in 13.2 overs.

The chase got off to a lightning-fast start as captain Aiden Markram took charge, smashing boundaries to put the UAE bowlers under immediate pressure. His quickfire 28 from 11 balls, which included several fours, ended when spinner Haider Ali clean bowled him, bringing an end to a 32-run opening stand.

Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton then combined to rebuild the innings, steadily pushing the score past 50 in the sixth over. However, the second wicket fell in the final over of the powerplay when Muhammad Jawadullah trapped de Kock for 14 off 16 balls, leaving South Africa at 56-2 in 5.4 overs.

Dewald Brevis walked in and quickly settled alongside Rickelton, forming a key partnership that took the score past 100 in the 11th over. The partnership was broken by Muhammad Farooq, who dismissed Rickelton for a thrilling 30 from just 16 deliveries, including three boundaries and two sixes, leaving the team at 105-3 in 10.4 overs.

Brevis continued to press on but eventually fell to Mohammad Arfan for 36 runs off 25 balls, featuring a four and three sixes. South Africa comfortably closed out the chase with Tristan Stubbs unbeaten on six and Jason Smith adding three runs.

The UAE innings had begun with promise as openers Aryansh Sharma and captain Muhammad Waseem put on 38 runs for the first wicket. Waseem was the first to depart for 22 from 12 balls, trapped by George Linde, and Sharma followed in the next over for 13 off 17 balls, including a four and a six, courtesy of Corbin Bosch. This left the UAE struggling at 42-2 in 5.2 overs.

Bosch struck again to dismiss Sohaib Khan for six, while Anrich Nortje removed Syed Haider for six, reducing UAE to 82-4 in 13.4 overs. Alishan Sharafu played a determined innings of 45 from 38 balls, hitting five fours and a six, but it wasn’t enough to lift the total to a challenging level. Bosch then claimed his third wicket by dismissing Muhammad Arfan for 11, leaving Dhruv Parashar and Muhammad Farooq unbeaten on five and one.

Corbin Bosch was the star with the ball for South Africa, finishing with remarkable figures of three wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs. Anrich Nortje took two wickets, and George Linde chipped in with one, ensuring UAE were restricted to a subpar total.