It was a night of high drama at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi as the United Arab Emirates clawed their way to a thrilling five-wicket win over Canada in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The Group D clash, played on February 13, 2026, kept fans on the edge of their seats until the penultimate ball, with UAE chasing down Canada’s 150-run target in a classic last-over finish.
Canada, led by captain Dilpreet Bajwa, won the toss and had no hesitation in opting to bat first on a dry afternoon. The decision seemed sound at first, but UAE’s bowlers, spearheaded by the fiery Junaid Siddique, had other plans. Siddique was virtually unplayable inside the Powerplay, dismantling Canada’s top order and setting the tone for a tense contest. By the end of the first six overs, Canada had already lost three wickets, leaving them with plenty of work to do.
But cricket is a game of partnerships, and Canada’s middle order was up for the challenge. Harsh Thaker and Navneet Dhaliwal, dubbed the team’s repair-job experts, stitched together a crucial 58-run stand for the fourth wicket. Thaker played a composed knock, reaching his half-century off 41 balls, peppered with two fours and three sixes. Dhaliwal, not to be outdone, contributed a brisk 34 off 28 deliveries, lacing his innings with four boundaries.
Just as Canada seemed to be regaining control, disaster struck. Dhaliwal was run out, opening the door for UAE to strike back. Siddique returned to the attack with renewed vigor, snaring a flurry of wickets at the death and finishing with sensational figures of 5 for 35 in his four overs. As the innings drew to a close, Dilon Heyliger provided a spark with a last-ball six, pushing Canada to a competitive 150 for 7.
Reflecting on the innings, Canada’s skipper Dilpreet Bajwa admitted, “We were expecting to score 160-170 but managed to get to 150, which was defendable. Credit to Aryansh Sharma and Sohaib Khan for the way they batted.” Bajwa also highlighted the dew factor aiding the chasing side and pointed out, “The fast bowlers tried to stick to their lengths, which didn’t quite happen. The middle order and spin bowling are coming along nicely, but we need to improve with the bat up top and be better with our lines and lengths in terms of pace bowling.”
UAE’s chase was anything but straightforward. Their captain, Muhammad Waseem, fell early, and the team struggled to find momentum in the opening overs. “I just went up and made them realise that I have full trust in the team and had a very positive feeling that we could chase the run,” Waseem said at the innings break, exuding confidence in his squad. Still, UAE managed just 17 runs in the final over of the Powerplay and stumbled through the middle phase, scoring only 43 runs and losing three wickets between overs 7 and 14.
At 56 needed from the last four overs, the odds seemed to favor Canada. But then, the game flipped on its head. Aryansh Sharma, opening the innings, remained a pillar of composure and skill, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 74 off 53 balls. His innings, studded with six fours and three sixes, kept UAE’s hopes alive even as wickets tumbled around him.
The real fireworks, though, were reserved for Sohaib Khan. Coming in at number six, Khan unleashed a breathtaking assault on the Canadian bowlers. In a mere 29 balls, he hammered 51 runs, including four boundaries and four towering sixes. His fifty, coming off just 28 balls, was the fastest by an Associate player in this year’s tournament—a fact that had the on-air commentators and spectators buzzing.
“This is much fuller, on middle. Sohaib Khan drives it downtown… He lifts his willow and soaks in the cheers. It really has been a game-changing knock from Khan,” read the live commentary as the UAE dugout erupted in celebration. The 17th and 18th overs yielded 17 and 13 runs, respectively, as Khan and Sharma dismantled the Canadian attack under pressure.
Canada’s bowlers, who had been disciplined for much of the match, suddenly lost their way at the death. Dilon Heyliger and Kaleem Sana, both impressive earlier, struggled to contain the onslaught. Sana’s 19th over was particularly costly, leaking 18 runs and swinging the momentum decisively in UAE’s favor.
The final over, bowled by Jaskarandeep Singh, was a microcosm of the match’s tension. With eight needed from six balls, Sohaib Khan tried to finish in style but was caught for 51, leaving UAE with one run to win off three balls. Aryansh Sharma, cool as ever, tucked a single to level the scores and then, with the crowd roaring, hammered a six to bring UAE to the brink. It was Muhammad Arfan who eventually sealed the win, scampering a single as UAE’s players stormed the field in jubilation.
Junaid Siddique’s five-wicket haul earned him the Player of the Match award. “It was good to bowl on this pitch,” Siddique said in the post-match interview. “We had prepared before the match how we were going to bowl, but I was trying to hit the hard lengths more. Mixing up my quicker deliveries with slower ones certainly worked for me. After the first inning, we were pretty confident that 150 was chasable.”
For Canada, the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. They had the upper hand for much of the contest, only to see it slip away in the final overs. “A disappointing defeat for Canada, one that will hurt more as they were in with a big chance,” noted the match summary. Still, there were positives to take—especially the resilience shown by Thaker and Dhaliwal, and the effectiveness of their spinners through the middle overs, with Saad Bin Zafar picking up three wickets to keep UAE in check.
The match was broadcast live on JioStar and the Star Sports Network, ensuring fans across the globe could witness the drama unfold. With this victory, UAE claimed their first points of the tournament, while Canada was left pondering what might have been after a contest that showcased the very best of Associate cricket—skill, heart, and a finish for the ages.
As the teams look ahead to their next fixtures, the memory of this Delhi thriller will linger. For UAE, it’s a momentum-building triumph; for Canada, a lesson in closing out games under pressure. What a way to light up the T20 World Cup stage!