New Zealand's Allen and Seifert Shatter T20 World Cup Opening Partnership Record with Perfect 175-Run Chase

New Zealand openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert rewrote the record books on February 10, 2026, smashing the highest-ever opening partnership in T20 World Cup history with an unbeaten 175-run stand that demolished the United Arab Emirates at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The Kiwi duo chased down UAE's total of 173 for 6 with remarkable ease, reaching 175 for 0 in just 15.2 overs to secure a comprehensive 10-wicket victory in the 11th match of Group D.

Seifert finished unbeaten on 89 off just 42 balls, striking 12 fours and three sixes in a blistering display of aggressive batting. Allen complemented his opening partner perfectly with an undefeated 84 off 50 deliveries, including five fours and five sixes. The pair's record-breaking partnership surpassed the previous T20 World Cup record of 170 runs set by England's Alex Hales and Jos Buttler in 2022, establishing a new benchmark that will be difficult for future teams to eclipse. Their strike rate throughout the chase remained above 180, putting the UAE bowling attack under relentless pressure from the first ball to the last.

The comprehensive victory keeps New Zealand's campaign in Group D on track as they pursue a spot in the knockout stages of the tournament. The Black Caps' dominant performance showcased their batting depth and the explosive capabilities of their top order. Allen and Seifert's ability to rotate strike while picking off boundaries at regular intervals demonstrated the intelligent aggression that defines modern T20 cricket at the highest level. Their partnership featured 17 fours and 8 sixes combined, thrilling the Chennai crowd with powerful strokeplay all around the wicket.

Earlier in the day, UAE posted a competitive total of 173 for 6 after being sent in to bat. Muhammad Waseem led the UAE innings with a composed unbeaten 66 off 45 balls, becoming the first UAE player to record multiple half-centuries in T20 World Cup history. Waseem and Alishan Sharafu put together a solid 107-run partnership for the second wicket, which ranks as UAE's second-highest partnership for that wicket in T20 internationals. Muhammad Rohid remained economical without taking a wicket, finishing with figures of 0 for 51, but the UAE bowling unit had no answers to the New Zealand onslaught that followed.

The record-breaking partnership places Allen and Seifert among the elite opening pairs in T20 World Cup history. Their names now sit atop the list of highest opening partnerships in the tournament, ahead of legendary combinations from previous editions. The performance also sends a strong message to other teams in the competition that New Zealand's batting lineup possesses the firepower to chase down any target when their top order fires. With the knockout stages approaching, the Black Caps will take enormous confidence from this ruthless display of batting dominance.

For UAE, despite the heavy defeat, there were positives to take from Waseem's continued excellence with the bat and their ability to post a competitive total against quality opposition. However, their bowling attack will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back in their remaining Group D fixtures and keep their hopes of advancing to the next round alive.