pakistan vs namibia: Sahibzada Farhan’s T20 century propels Pakistan into Super 8s
In a one-sided Group A encounter on Wednesday (ET), Sahibzada Farhan smashed his maiden international T20 century and a potent Pakistan bowling attack ripped through Namibia to secure a 102-run victory and a spot in the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup.
Farhan’s fearless hundred sets the platform
Opening the innings, Sahibzada Farhan produced a commanding unbeaten 100 off 58 balls, peppering the scoreboard with 11 fours and four sixes as Pakistan posted 199 for 3. The innings was both aggressive and controlled, with Farhan dispatching loose deliveries and rotating strike intelligently against Namibia’s bowlers. Captain Salman Ali Agha provided support with a useful 38, while Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 36 late in the innings ensured Pakistan finished with a challenging total.
Farhan’s century carried the tone of the chase before a single ball was bowled; by the time Namibia took the field they faced an uphill task against a balanced Pakistan attack operating on fresh, fast outfields.
Usman Tariq’s mystery spin and Shadab’s support crush Namibia
Usman Tariq, operating a pause-and-bowl action that confounded Namibia’s batters, returned career-best figures of 4 for 16 as Pakistan’s bowlers reduced the opposition to 97 all out in 17. 3 overs. Shadab Khan backed him up with 3 for 19, and the seamers and spinners combined to keep Namibia under constant pressure, preventing any meaningful partnerships from forming.
The collapse was rapid: initial probing from the quicks built pressure, then Tariq’s variations and Shadab’s control finished the job. Namibia’s fourth straight defeat in the tournament leaves them still searching for momentum, while Pakistan’s emphatic win confirms their place in the next phase of the competition. With this result, Pakistan join Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the group based in England for the Super 8s.
Group dynamics: South Africa sweep group stage as others progress
Elsewhere in the group, South Africa completed an unbeaten run through the stage by chasing down 123 from the United Arab Emirates with 40 balls to spare, finishing their reply in 13. 2 overs. Veteran seamer Corbin Bosch impressed with 3 for 12 as the UAE were restricted to 122 for 6, while Anrich Nortje chipped in with two wickets. The Proteas middled the chase comfortably, with Dewald Brevis top-scoring and Ryan Rickelton contributing a solid 30.
South Africa’s dominance across their matches, including dramatic tiebreaker wins earlier in the tournament, underlines their consistency heading into the Super 8s. For Pakistan, the emphatic win over Namibia not only boosted net run rate but also settled selection questions and provided momentum ahead of tougher opponents in the next phase.
With the Super 8s lineup starting to take shape, teams will turn their attention to fine-tuning combinations and managing workloads. Pakistan’s blend of a breakthrough batting performance and a disciplined bowling display gives them cause for optimism as they prepare for higher-stakes fixtures in the coming rounds. The tournament schedule continues to build toward its March 8 final (ET).
