Seifert-Allen record-breaking stand hands them 10-wicket victory
Chennai: The New Zealand opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen went on a rampage against the UAE bowling attack to make short work of the 174-run target, firing the Blacks Caps to a 10-wicket win in the T20 World Cup here on Tuesday.
The UAE did well to post 173 for six, their highest total in tournament history following fine fifties captain Muhammad Waseem (66*) and Alishan Sharafu (55) at the top of the order.
However, the destructive duo of Allen (84* off 50) and Seifert (89* off 42) ran riot on a red soil pitch to fashion a 10-wicket victory for their team.
Their 175-run stand off 92 balls was the highest for any wicket in tournament history as New Zealand coasted to the win in 15.2 overs.
New Zealand’s chase was virtually sealed when they raced to 119 without loss in 10 overs. Seifert’s reverse sweeps and Allen’s innovative scoops kept the UAE bowlers under constant pressure, with Allen also completing 100 T20I sixes.
Earlier, Waseem and Sharafu added a fluent opening stand before Sharafu fell to a relay catch involving Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell. UAE finished strongly with 51 runs in the last five overs, but it proved well short.
