Colombo: Pakistan beat Namibia by 102 runs in the Super Eight stage of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Chasing a challenging target of 200, Namibia were bowled out for 97 runs in 17.3 overs.
The innings got off to a promising start as openers Loren Steenkamp and John Frylink added 32 runs. Frylink scored 9 runs off 11 balls, including a boundary off Salman Mirza, before being clean bowled.
Namibia’s problems intensified when John Nicol Lofty-Eaden was run out for five in the final over of the powerplay, leaving the visitors at 39-2 in 5.2 overs.
The slide continued as Steenkamp scored 23 runs off 22 balls before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz with 3 fours and a six. Captain Herhard Erasmus managed just seven before Shatab Khan took his wicket.
Alexander Pussing-Wolshenk scored 20 off 20 balls to stabilize the innings, but Shadab soon picked up his second wicket. Namibia reeled at 79-5 in 12.3 overs.
Usman Tariq further tightened Pakistan’s grip, with JJ Smith for 9 and Ruben Trumpelman for a duck as Namibia cruised to 81-7 in 13.3 overs.
Shadab then got his third wicket, dismissing Jane Green (7), Tariq taking two more wickets, dismissing Bernard Scholz (1) and Willem Myburgh (8) to complete a comprehensive Pakistan bowling.
Usman Tariq posted impressive figures of 4/16 in 3.3 overs with Shadab Khan taking three wickets. Salman Mirza and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each.
Batting first, Pakistan took the early lead with openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan scoring freely from the start.
However, the 40-run opening stand was broken when Saim Ayub scored 14 runs off 12 balls, including 2 fours.
Captain Salman Ali Agha then put on a 67-run partnership for the second wicket with Farhan, easing the pressure and taking the team past 100.
Farhan was in good form and continued to score important runs with boundaries to reach his 10th T20I fifty.
As Brussels finally struck again, Agha scored 38 runs off 23 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes as Pakistan cruised to 107-2 in 12.1 overs.
Surprisingly, Babar Azam didn’t come third; Khawaja Nafe was sent to Greece instead.
However, his innings was short-lived as he scored 5 runs off one ball, which included a boundary, off captain Herhard Erasmus.
Shadab Khan came into bat and struggled early on, but Farhan continued his classy form, hitting fours to take Pakistan past 150.
Farhan notched up his maiden T20I century, joining Ahmed Shezad as the second Pakistani player to score a century in a T20I World Cup.
The duo put on 50 runs for the fourth wicket, with Shatab picking up the pace and piling on the runs.
Farhan remained unbeaten on 100 off 58 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes while Shatab scored 36 off 22 balls including a four and 3 sixes.