South Africa vs UAE Prediction & Match Preview – T20 World Cup 34th Match
Match summary
South Africa face the UAE in Delhi at the 2026 T20 World Cup. Our preview covers recent form, likely XIs, pitch, weather and a match verdict.
Match details
| Match | South Africa vs United Arab Emirates, 34th Match |
|---|---|
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | 18 Feb 2026 |
| Start time | 5:30 am GMT / 11:00 am local |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | South Africa |
| Toss pick | South Africa |
Matches in this series
Match preview
South Africa head into the 34th match of the 2026 T20 World Cup full of confidence. In their previous game they won by seven wickets against New Zealand after choosing to field, limiting the Black Caps to 175 all out. Marco Jansen took 4 for 40 and Keshav Maharaj added 1 for 24, with Lungi Ngidi and Corbin Bosch also among the wickets.
The chase was led by captain Aiden Markram, who finished unbeaten on 86 from 44 balls with eight fours and four sixes. David Miller stayed not out on 24, Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis made 21 each and Quinton de Kock chipped in with 20 as the target was reached in 17.1 overs.
The United Arab Emirates arrive after a five-wicket defeat to Afghanistan. Batting first after losing the toss, they made 160 all out, with Sohaib Khan top-scoring on 68 from 48 balls and Alishan Sharafu adding 40 from 31. Skipper Muhammad Waseem managed only 10.
With the ball, Junaid Siddique returned 2 for 23 and Muhammad Arfan took two wickets for 30, but the total was reached with 4 balls to spare. To trouble South Africa the UAE will need an early breakthrough and a more complete batting effort.
Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium usually offers a good batting surface with decent pace and bounce, so set batters can play their strokes. New-ball bowlers may find some early movement, particularly under lights, but it fades quickly. Spinners can have a say in the middle overs once the footmarks appear, although big turn is not guaranteed. High totals have been common here, which puts a premium on accuracy, changes of pace and clever angles.
Conditions in Delhi on 18 February are expected to be warm and pleasant at around 26–30°C, with partly cloudy to sunny skies. A western disturbance brings a slight chance of a light drizzle, but heavy rain is unlikely and a full game is expected. Humidity should be moderate with a gentle breeze.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 165–180 | – |
| Second innings | 140–155 | – |
South Africa
South Africa come in on the back of a seven-wicket win over New Zealand and have the deeper batting and bowling, while the UAE are coming off a loss to Afghanistan.
Toss pick: South Africa
FAQ
Where is South Africa vs UAE being played?
The match takes place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, with a start of 11:00 am local time on 18 February 2026.
Who is favoured in our preview?
South Africa are our pick to win, helped by their recent seven-wicket victory over New Zealand and a strong top order.
What total is likely at this ground?
We expect the side batting first to post somewhere between 165 and 180, with a chase of 140–155 more likely to fall short.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
South Africa
- Quinton de Kockwk
- Ryan Rickelton
- Aiden Markramc
- Dewald Brevis
- Tristan Stubbs
- David Miller
- Marco Jansen
- George Linde
- Kagiso Rabada
- Lungi Ngidi
- Keshav Maharaj
United Arab Emirates
- Aryansh Sharmawk
- Muhammad Waseemc
- Alishan Sharafu
- Mayank Kumar
- Harshit Kaushik
- Sohaib Khan
- Muhammad Arfan
- Muhammad Farooq
- Haider Ali
- Junaid Siddique
- Muhammad Jawadullah