NEW DELHI: New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen went on an all-out rampage against the UAE bowling attack, making a mockery of the 174-run target to seal a crushing 10-wicket win in the T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

UAE showed plenty of fight to post 173 for six, their highest total in tournament history, thanks to composed half-centuries from skipper Muhammad Waseem (66 not out off 45) and Alishan Sharafu (55 off 40) at the top.

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But once Seifert (89 not out off 42) and Allen (84 not out off 50) got going, the contest quickly slipped out of UAE’s grasp. The New Zealand pair tore into the bowling on a red-soil surface and chased the target without losing a wicket.

Their unbeaten 175-run stand off just 92 balls became the highest partnership for any wicket in the tournament as the Black Caps wrapped up the win with 28 balls to spare.

It was UAE’s first outing of the competition, and after the heavy defeat at Chepauk, they will have plenty to reflect on.

New Zealand, who bowed out early in the previous edition, have now sounded an early warning with two dominant wins from two games.

UAE Attack Overpowered

Except for left-arm spinner Haider Ali, the UAE bowlers struggled to stem the flow of runs as Seifert and Allen found boundaries almost at will.

The game was effectively settled by the halfway stage of the chase, with New Zealand racing to 119 without loss after 10 overs.

Seifert’s innings stood out for its innovation, especially the back-to-back reverse sweeps off Haider Ali in the 11th over that brought him a six and a four.

Allen set the tone early by targeting medium-pacer Junaid Siddique, shuffling across his stumps to scoop him for a six over fine leg.

UAE’s pacers looked short of ideas, paying the price for bowling too many length deliveries. Allen also reached the milestone of 100 sixes in T20 Internationals during his fluent knock.

Waseem, Sharafu Impress

Earlier, Waseem and Sharafu ensured UAE made a solid start, picking up boundaries regularly in the powerplay despite Aryansh Sharma (8) falling to Jacob Duffy off a short ball in the second over.

Waseem was the aggressor in the opening stand, ramping Duffy for six and later charging down the track to Rachin Ravindra for a clean straight hit.

Sharafu played the anchor’s role before bringing up his fifty with a slog off a slower ball from Matt Henry towards cow corner.

The stand was finally broken by a moment of brilliance in the deep as Mark Chapman kept his cool near the rope, parrying the ball back for Daryl Mitchell to complete a superb relay catch.

Runs dried up after Sharafu’s dismissal in the 15th over, though UAE enjoyed a late flourish when Mitchell Santner handed the 18th over to Glenn Phillips, who went for 27 runs.

Waseem and Mayank Kumar struck a six each in that over, but UAE finished on 173 for six, adding 51 runs in the final five overs while losing four wickets, including two in the last over.

(With PTI Inputs)