T20 World Cup: Pakistan thrash Namibia by 102 runs to reach Super Eights
Cricket
Pakistan beat Namibia by 102 runs in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as Sahibzada Farhan scored a century and Usman Tariq took four wickets to seal Super Eights qualification.
COLOMBO (Dunya News) – Pakistan stormed into the Super Eights of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup with a commanding 102-run victory over Namibia at the SSC Cricket Ground in Colombo on Wednesday, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s century and a clinical bowling display led by Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan.
Chasing a target of 200, Namibia were bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs despite a steady opening stand, as Pakistan’s bowlers struck regularly to shut down the chase and secure the final Super Eights qualification spot.
Spinners did the job! Pakistan win by 102 runs vs Namibia & qualify for the Super Eight #PAKvNAM | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #T20WorldCup | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/8H72EArhyG
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 18, 2026
Farhan leads charge
Batting first, Pakistan national cricket team made a strong start through Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, who added 40 runs for the opening wicket. Saim fell for 14 off 12 balls to Jack Brassell, but Farhan continued to dominate the innings.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined Farhan and built a 67-run second-wicket partnership, pushing the total beyond 100. Agha scored 38 off 23 deliveries, including three fours and two sixes, before falling to Brassell in the 13th over.
Khawaja Nafay, promoted ahead of Babar Azam, made five before being dismissed by Gerhard Erasmus. Shadab Khan then partnered Farhan in a rapid 50-run fourth-wicket stand to accelerate the scoring rate in the closing overs.
Farhan brought up his maiden T20 World Cup century and finished unbeaten on 100 from 58 balls, striking 11 fours and four sixes. He became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a hundred in a T20 World Cup match. Shadab supported with 36 off 22 balls as Pakistan closed on 199 for 3.
Namibia collapse
Namibia began positively with a 32-run opening stand between Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck. Frylinck scored nine off 11 balls before being bowled by Salman Mirza. The pressure increased when Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton was run out for five in the final over of the powerplay, leaving the score at 39 for 2.
Steenkamp top-scored with 23 off 22 balls, hitting three fours and a six, before Mohammad Nawaz removed him. Captain Gerhard Erasmus added seven before falling to Shadab Khan.
Alexander Busing-Volschenk attempted to rebuild with 20 off 20 deliveries but was trapped by Shadab as Namibia slipped to 79 for 5 in 12.3 overs.
Tariq finishes job
Usman Tariq turned the match decisively by removing JJ Smit for nine and Ruben Trumpelmann for a duck in the same spell. Shadab claimed his third wicket when Zane Green fell for seven, courtesy of a diving catch at deep backward square by Saim Ayub.
Tariq wrapped up the innings in the 18th over, dismissing Bernard Scholtz and Willem Myburgh to complete a four-wicket haul. He finished with figures of 4 for 16 in 3.3 overs, while Shadab Khan took three wickets. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz picked up one each as Namibia were dismissed for 97.
With the 102-run win, Pakistan confirmed their progression to the Super Eights stage.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Khawaja Nafay, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza and Usman Tariq.
Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), Alexander Volschenk, JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz and Jack Brassell.
