NZ openers dominate, Netherlands build momentum as Pakistan win at T20 WC

Explosive batting displays from New Zealand and the Netherlands, coupled with a composed all-round effort by Pakistan, marked another action-packed day in the men’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday, underlining the growing gap between the tournament’s form teams and those still searching for answers.

At Chepauk, New Zealand’s opening pair of Tim Seifert and Finn Allen produced a record-breaking assault to crush UAE by 10 wickets, chasing down a competitive 174-run target with ease. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 175-run partnership , the highest for any wicket in T20 World Cup history, as the Black Caps romped home in just 15.2 overs.

UAE had earlier impressed with the bat, posting 173 for six , their highest-ever total in the tournament. Captain Muhammad Waseem led from the front with an unbeaten 66 off 45 balls, while Alishan Sharafu added a fluent 55. However, once Allen (84 not out off 50) and Seifert (89 not out off 42) began their counter-attack, the contest quickly became one-sided. Allen also reached the milestone of 100 sixes in T20 Internationals during his innings.

The emphatic victory gave New Zealand their second win in as many matches, sending an early warning to rivals after their disappointing early exit in the previous edition.

Meanwhile in New Delhi, the Netherlands continued their encouraging start with a convincing seven-wicket win over Namibia, driven by an unbeaten 72 from all-rounder Bas de Leede . Chasing 157, the Dutch side displayed clarity and confidence, which de Leede later attributed to a conscious shift in mindset within the team.

“We now believe we can consistently push towards 180 or 200. That change in thinking has shaped how we prepare,” de Leede said, reflecting on the team’s extended winter training back home and renewed belief on the global stage.

Namibia coach Craig Williams admitted his side fell short by 20–30 runs and rued the lack of a decisive middle-overs partnership, while stressing the importance of sticking to basics ahead of tougher fixtures.

In Colombo, Pakistan kept their campaign on track with a 32-run win over the USA in a Group A clash. Opener Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a fluent 73 off 41 balls, supported by Babar Azam’s 46 and a late flourish from Shadab Khan . Despite another strong showing from USA pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk (4/25) , Pakistan posted 190 for nine.

The USA’s chase never quite gathered momentum, with wickets falling at regular intervals, as Pakistan’s bowlers sealed their side’s first win of the tournament.

With the group stages beginning to take shape, dominant performances from teams like New Zealand and the Netherlands are setting the tone, while others face mounting pressure to respond quickly.