T20 World Cup 2026: UAE Edge Canada in Delhi Thriller to Keep Super 8s Hopes Alive
DELHI – In a tense low-scoring thriller at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the United Arab Emirates kept their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive with a dramatic five-wicket victory over Canada. Chasing a modest target of 151, UAE recovered from a middle-order collapse to prevail with just two balls to spare, thanks to Junaid Siddique's historic five-wicket haul and a calm unbeaten 74 from Aryansh Sharma .
The victory lifts UAE to third place in Group D with two points, while Canada's second consecutive defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table and on the brink of elimination .
Siddique's Five-For Restricts Canada to 150
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Canada's innings never quite gained momentum against a disciplined UAE bowling attack. Senior pacer Junaid Siddique delivered the performance of his life, claiming figures of 5/35 – the best bowling figures by a UAE player in T20 World Cup history and the second-best by any Associate nation bowler in the tournament .
Siddique struck twice inside the first four overs, removing skipper Dilpreet Bajwa (11) and Yuvraj Samra (4) to leave Canada reeling at 19/2 . Muhammad Jawadullah joined the party by dismissing dangerous batter Nicholas Kirton (5) in the sixth over, reducing Canada to 38/3 .
| Team | Score | Innings Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | 150/7 (20 overs) | H. Thaker 50 (41), N. Dhaliwal 34 (28); J. Siddique 5/35 |
| UAE | 151/5 (19.4 overs) | A. Sharma 74* (53), S. Khan 51 (29); S. Bin Zafar 3/14 |
Thaker Leads Fightback
The innings was revived by a crucial 58-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Harsh Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal . Thaker, who survived an lbw appeal on the first ball he faced, played with composure and aggression in equal measure. He brought up his maiden T20 World Cup half-century off 41 balls, becoming only the fifth Canadian batter to achieve the feat .
Dhaliwal contributed a steady 34 off 28 balls before being unfortunately run out when his bat got stuck just outside the crease . Thaker eventually fell for exactly 50 in the 18th over, deceived by Siddique's clever slower delivery .
Siddique returned to clean up the tail in the final over, removing Shreyas Movva (21) and Saad Bin Zafar to complete his magnificent five-wicket haul and restrict Canada to 150/7 .
Zafar's Spin Web Stuns UAE Chase
The UAE chase began disastrously. Kaleem Sana removed captain Muhammad Waseem for just 4 in the third over, caught at midwicket . But it was veteran left-arm spinner Saad Bin Zafar who turned the screw, delivering a spell of exceptional control that threatened to win the game for Canada.
Zafar finished with remarkable figures of 3/14 from his four overs, maintaining an economy rate of just 3.5 . He first dismissed Alishan Sharafu (5) in the seventh over, caught by Nicholas Kirton at cover. He then removed Mayank Kumar (4) in the 11th over, caught at long-on, before trapping Harshit Kaushik (5) at deep midwicket in his next over .
At 66/4 in the 13th over, UAE were in deep trouble, needing 85 runs from just 48 balls with only the lower order to come .
Sharma and Sohaib Stage Remarkable Recovery
Just when the game appeared to be slipping away, opener Aryansh Sharma found an unlikely ally in Sohaib Khan. The pair staged a magnificent recovery, adding 84 runs for the fifth wicket – the highest partnership of the match and the turning point of the contest .
Sharma, who had held firm throughout the innings, played the anchor role to perfection. The wicketkeeper-batter brought up his fifty off 41 balls and remained unbeaten on 74 off 53 deliveries, an innings decorated with six fours and three sixes .
Sohaib's Blitzkrieg
If Sharma was the anchor, Sohaib Khan was the aggressor who turned the tide. With 56 needed from the last four overs, Sohaib launched a breathtaking assault on the Canadian bowling attack .
He smashed Dilon Heyliger for two sixes and a four in a 17-run over, before taking Jaskarandeep Singh for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries . His half-century came off just 28 balls – a blistering knock of 51 off 29 deliveries featuring four fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 175.86 .
By the time Sohaib was caught with scores level in the final over, he had done enough. New batsman Muhammad Arfan calmly struck the winning run with two balls to spare, sparking wild celebrations in the UAE camp .
Records and Milestones
The match produced several notable achievements:
Junaid Siddique's 5/35 is now the best bowling figures by a UAE bowler in T20 World Cup history and the second-best by any Associate nation
Harsh Thaker became the fifth Canadian batter to score a T20 World Cup half-century
Saad Bin Zafar's 3/14 was the most economical spell of the tournament by any bowler at that stage
What This Means for Group D
The result has significant implications for Group D. New Zealand and South Africa lead the group with four points each after two wins apiece. UAE's victory lifts them to third with two points, while Canada and Afghanistan remain winless at the bottom .
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.919 |
| South Africa | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.425 |
| UAE | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1.030 |
| Afghanistan | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -0.555 |
| Canada | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.526 |
Table: ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Group D Points Table (as of Feb 13)
For UAE, the path to the Super 8s remains challenging but alive. They must now pull off shock victories against full members South Africa and Afghanistan in their remaining matches – a feat they have never achieved in any World Cup format . For Canada, defeat means mathematical elimination is now almost certain unless they can win their remaining games and rely on other results.
What's Next?
UAE will play their next fixture in Delhi on February 16, where they face tournament co-hosts and two-time champions West Indies in a must-win encounter . Canada returns to action on February 17 in Chennai, taking on New Zealand .
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