Pakistan kept their campaign alive with a big 102-run win over Namibia to move into the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup on Wednesday.
Sahibzada Farhan smashed maiden T20 WC ton
The star of the match was Sahibzada Farhan, who smashed his maiden T20 World Cup century. Opening the batting, Farhan stayed unbeaten on 100 off 58 balls. He reached his hundred in style, taking just 20 balls to move from his fifty to three figures. His innings included 11 fours and four sixes. He is now only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in a T20 World Cup, after Ahmed Shehzad did so in 2014.
Pakistan, who had to win this game, posted a strong total of 199 for three after being put in to bat. Farhan built important partnerships along the way, adding 67 runs with captain Salman Agha (38 off 23 balls) and another 81 with Shadab Khan, who remained unbeaten on 36 from 22 deliveries.
Pakistan's start vs Namibia
The start, however, was steady rather than explosive. Pakistan scored 47 runs in the power play and lost Saim Ayub for 14. After a heavy defeat to India in their previous match, Pakistan made a few changes, bringing in Khawaja Nafay in the middle order and leaving out pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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For a while, the scoring rate dipped, and Pakistan were 55 for one after eight overs at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground. But Salman Agha shifted the momentum in the ninth over with a six off Willem Myburgh. Farhan followed his captain’s lead, smashing two big sixes off the same bowler to lift the run rate. Three sixes in that over changed the tone of the innings.
Although Agha was dismissed soon after and Nafay had a short stay at the crease, Farhan continued to control the innings with confident stroke play. Shadab Khan finished strongly, hitting two sixes in the final over to push the total close to 200.
Namibia's chase
In reply, Namibia never looked settled. Pakistan’s bowlers, especially the spinners, dominated from the start. Mystery spinner Usman Tariq took four wickets for just 16 runs, while Shadab picked up three for 19. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz also chipped in with a wicket each.
Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs, ending their tournament without a win in four matches.
The victory not only took Pakistan into the Super Eights but also secured their qualification for the next T20 World Cup in 2028, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. It also stands as Pakistan’s biggest winning margin in T20 World Cup history.