UAE vs South Africa LIVE: Score Updates, Key Plays & How to Watch Today’s Crucial Cricket Clash

The much-anticipated UAE vs South Africa clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 delivered early drama at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and inserted the UAE on a fresh, green-tinged surface. Power-play fireworks • Kagiso Rabada struck in the very first over, forcing an edge from teenage opener Aryansh Sharma. • Muhammad Waseem counter-attacked with a 28-ball 37, launching two sixes over mid-wicket to lift the UAE to 46/2 after six. • Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj stemmed the flow, removing the dangerous Waseem and captain CP Rizwan in successive overs. Middle-overs squeeze South Africa’s bowling unit showcased textbook T20 control, conceding just 52 runs between overs 7 and 15. Anrich Nortje’s raw pace (2/20) and Maharaj’s guile (3/25) reduced the Gulf side to 98/6, forcing them into survival mode rather than a late assault. Late cameo lifts UAE All-rounder Aayan Afzal Khan (32* off 19) unfurled a crucial cameo, scooping Rabada and ramping Nortje to nudge the total to a competitive 136/8—a score that looked improbable when they were 104/7 in the 17th over. Proteas’ chase underway Quinton de Kock unfurled trademark cuts and pulls to rocket South Africa to 44/0 in four overs before UAE seamer Junaid Siddique produced a beauty that kissed the outside edge. At the time of writing, South Africa sit comfortably at 67/1 after the power-play, needing 70 from 84 balls with nine wickets in hand. What’s at stake 1. Group D equation: South Africa top the table and a win today secures direct passage to the Super Eights, avoiding net-run-rate complications. 2. UAE’s pride: Already out of the qualification race, an upset would hand them their first ever win over a full-member nation at a senior ICC men’s event. 3. Player narratives: Dewald Brevis seeks runs after a lean tournament, while UAE youngster Aayan Afzal Khan continues to bolster his growing reputation. Conditions & tactics • Pitch: The surface is offering variable bounce; expect Markram to unleash spin in tandem to exploit rough patches. • Dew factor: Evening moisture historically aids chasing sides in Delhi, a key reason behind South Africa’s decision at the toss. • Boundary dimensions: Straight boundaries measure a generous 78 m, but square boundaries are a tempting 63 m—ideal for wristy players like Brevis. Key stats • Head-to-head: First official T20I meeting between UAE and South Africa. • Rabada milestone: The strike on Aryansh was his 60th wicket in T20Is, moving him past Dale Steyn on South Africa’s all-time list. • UAE power-play average: 7.3 rpo this tournament—their highest in any ICC event. With South Africa eyeing a routine finish and the UAE fighting for a statement result, the UAE vs South Africa battle is set to impact both Group D dynamics and emerging-nation cricket narratives worldwide. Stay tuned for live score updates, post-match analysis and full highlights as the action unfolds in Delhi.