Pakistan cemented their place in the Super 8 stage of cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup with an emphatic 102-run triumph against Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday. The victory was powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s spectacular maiden T20 century and Usman Tariq’s mesmerizing spin bowling performance.
Opening batsman Farhan delivered a masterclass in aggressive yet controlled batting, remaining unbeaten on 100 from just 58 deliveries. His innings featured 11 boundaries and four massive sixes, with his second fifty coming off a mere 20 balls. Captain Salman Ali Agha contributed a solid 38, while Shadab Khan provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 36 that included three sixes, propelling Pakistan to a formidable total of 199-3.
The bowling attack, led by the unorthodox spinner Usman Tariq, dismantled Namibia’s batting lineup with clinical precision. Tariq’s distinctive pause-and-bowl action proved particularly devastating, earning him figures of 4-16, including a remarkable double-wicket maiden over. Shadab Khan complemented with 3-19 as Namibia collapsed from 79-4 to be all out for 97 in 17.3 overs, suffering their fourth consecutive group stage defeat.
In concurrent Group D action, South Africa completed their group stage campaign undefeated, comfortably chasing down 123 against United Arab Emirates with 40 balls to spare. The Proteas’ comprehensive performance sets them up strongly for the Super 8 phase, alongside New Zealand who also advanced from Group D.
The victory ensures Pakistan, the 2009 champions, progress to the next round while eliminating any remaining hopes for the United States team. Pakistan’s spinners demonstrated complete dominance, with only Namibia’s Louren Steenkamp (23) and Alexander Busing-Volschenk (20) offering meaningful resistance in an otherwise one-sided contest.