pakistan vs namibia: Sahibzada Farhan's century seals Pakistan's Super 8s spot
Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan produced a match-defining unbeaten 100 as Pakistan crushed Namibia by 102 runs to secure a place in the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup. A dominant batting display followed by a clinical spell from Usman Tariq and support from Shadab Khan left Namibia reeling and ensured Pakistan advanced from Group A.
Farhan leads a powerful Pakistan batting effort
Farhan finished an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, with four sixes and 11 boundaries, anchoring Pakistan to a commanding 199 for 3 in the Group A contest in Colombo on Wednesday. The opening partnership set the tone early, and contributions from captain Salman Ali Agha and a late cameo from Shadab Khan (36 not out) pushed the total into a challenging range for the visitors.
Farhan’s innings blended controlled shot selection with bursts of aggression. He timed the innings perfectly to exploit the middle overs, rotating the strike and punishing anything loose. The century was Farhan’s first in international T20 cricket and arrived at a crucial stage of the tournament, providing both confidence and scoreboard pressure ahead of the Super 8s.
Spin and discipline finish the job; Pakistan clinch Super 8s spot
Namibia were never truly able to get a foothold in the chase. Usman Tariq, operating with a distinctive pause-and-bowl action that unsettled the batters, returned sensational figures of 4 for 16. Tariq’s variations and clever change of pace produced regular breakthroughs, while Shadab Khan complemented him with 3 for 19 to wrap up the tail.
The visitors were dismissed for 97 in 17. 3 overs, handing Pakistan a 102-run victory and marking Namibia’s fourth consecutive defeat in the competition. The comprehensive bowling performance underlined a balanced Pakistan unit capable of dismantling oppositions with both bat and ball. With that win, Pakistan secured progression to the Super 8s and will join Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the group that will head to England for the next phase.
Group ramifications and wider tournament picture
The result confirms Pakistan’s upward trajectory in the early stages of the tournament and gives them valuable momentum heading into tougher assignments in the Super 8s. Confidence from a big-win performance and the discovery of effective bowling permutations, such as Tariq’s mystery spin, will be vital against higher-ranked opposition.
Elsewhere in Group A, South Africa completed a comfortable chase of 123 against the United Arab Emirates, finishing the group stage unbeaten. Veteran bowlers chipped in to restrict the UAE to 122 for 6, and the chase was wrapped up inside 14 overs, underlining South Africa’s ruthless form coming into the latter stages. That side’s consistency means the Super 8s will see several in-form teams jockeying for early advantage.
For Pakistan, the task now is to translate this form into wins against stronger opponents. Farhan’s century provides a fresh attacking option at the top of the order, while Tariq and Shadab offer a spin partnership that can be tailored to different conditions. The Super 8s will test depth and adaptability, but Pakistan’s all-round performance in this match gives them a platform to build from.
As the tournament progresses, teams that combine sharp bowling plans with big individual batting performances are most likely to advance. Pakistan’s emphatic display against Namibia checks both boxes and sends a clear message that they will be competitive in the next phase.
