pakistan vs namibia: Farhan's century fires Pakistan into Super 8s
In a dominant Group A display on Wednesday (ET) in Colombo, Pakistan hammered Namibia by 102 runs as opener Sahibzada Farhan struck his maiden T20 international century and the bowling unit ripped through the visitors to secure a place in the Super 8s.
Farhan's maiden T20 hundred sets the platform
Sahibzada Farhan produced a commanding batting performance, finishing an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls with four sixes and 11 boundaries. His measured strokeplay and calculated aggression pushed Pakistan to a formidable 199 for 3. Farhan's innings provided the backbone of the chase for big runs, allowing middle and lower-order batters to play support roles rather than rescue acts.
Captain Salman Ali Agha chipped in with a vital 38 that helped maintain momentum after early consolidation, while Shadab Khan added an enterprising 36 not out to accelerate late in the innings. The platform built by Farhan and his partners left Namibia with a challenging target on a surface that offered opportunities for both batters and spinners.
Missing answers: Namibia undone by mystery spin and clinical bowling
Namibia’s chase never gained traction once Pakistan’s bowlers found rhythm. Usman Tariq exploited a distinctive pause-and-bowl action to unsettle the batting line-up, finishing with career-best figures of 4 for 16. His variations and change of pace forced false shots and set the stage for a collapse.
Shadab Khan complemented Tariq’s spell with figures of 3 for 19, and the combined pressure saw Namibia bowled out for 97 in 17. 3 overs. The result marked Namibia’s fourth consecutive defeat in the competition and underlined the gulf Pakistan established between their batting potency and the visitors’ ability to counter spin under scoreboard pressure.
Tournament impact: Pakistan join Sri Lanka and New Zealand; group notes
The win confirms Pakistan’s progression to the Super 8s, joining Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the group that includes England. The victory provides a timely morale boost, combining a match-defining century with incisive bowling—an encouraging balance as the tournament shifts into the next phase.
Elsewhere in the group, South Africa completed the group stage unbeaten with a comfortable chase of 123 against the United Arab Emirates. Veteran pace bowlers spearheaded the defense of a modest total, and the batting unit cruised home with time to spare. That result ensured South Africa topped the group, leaving other teams to regroup ahead of the knockout stages.
For Pakistan, the combination of Farhan’s breakthrough innings and a disciplined bowling display offers momentum and tactical clarity heading into the Super 8s. Namibia will head back to the drawing board after a campaign that exposed weaknesses against quality spin and disciplined pace bowling.
