Pakistan defeated Namibia by 102 runs in Colombo on Wednesday, securing the final Super Eight spot in the T20 World Cup thanks to a spectacular century from Sahibzada Farhan.
Pakistan scored 199-3 with Farhan scoring 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and ten fours, before bundling out Namibia for 97 in 17.3 overs. The United States finished with four points in Group A, but Pakistan’s victory moved them up to six points from four games.
The Super Eights Group 1 will be held in India and will feature matches between the reigning champions India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies. In Group 2, which is being hosted in Sri Lanka, Pakistan is joined by New Zealand, England, and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Pakistan needed a win to avoid an early exit after a humiliating 61-run loss to India. This was easily accomplished as spinners Shadab Khan (3-19) and Usman Tariq (4-16) ripped through the Namibian batting. While Louren Steenkamp scored 23, Alexander Busing-Volschenk was the only other batter to reach double digits with 20 runs.
Earlier, Farhan reached the 90s with a six and a four off pace bowler Jack Brassell. In the last over, he took a single off Gerhard Erasmus to get his century. After Ahmed Shehzad in 2014 against Bangladesh, Farhan is the only other Pakistani player to hit a century in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan hammered 42 from the final three overs thanks to Shadab Khan, who was moved up to number five ahead of Babar Azam. In his 36 not out off 22 balls, he smacked three sixes and a four. Before solidifying the innings with a 67-run second wicket stand with captain Salman Agha (38), Farhan put up 40 for the first wicket with Saim Ayub (14) as well.
Following a dismal performance in the first three games, including giving up 31 runs in two overs in Sunday’s loss to India, Pakistan benched fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Farhan’s century marks the first time three hundreds have been scored in a T20 World Cup. He followed Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka, who got to 100 against Australia on Monday and Canada’s Yuvraj Sama, who hit three figures against New Zealand on Tuesday.
