Sahibzada Farhan's Maiden Century Helps Pakistan Book T20 World Cup Super 8 Place

Sahibzada's century helps Pakistan reach T20 WC Super 8 [Source: AFP]

After a lacklustre performance against India, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan was back amongst the run-getters as the star player smashed his maiden T20I century and helped the Men in Green book their place in the T20 World Cup Super 8. The Asian side thrashed Namibia in a one-sided contest as Pakistan won the game by 102 runs.

With the win, Pakistan joined India as the second team from the group to book their Super 8 berth. The Men in Green needed to avoid a defeat against Namibia to reach the next round, and they dominated the proceedings to stamp their authority

Sahibzada Farhan smashes scintillating ton as Pakistan score mammoth total

Captain Salman Agha corrected his mistake from the last game as he elected to bat first after winning the toss. The team made a couple of changes, as anything less than a win would have seen them exit the tournament.

Pakistan lost Saim Ayub early as the swashbuckling batter was sent back for a 12-ball 14. After the early jolt, Salman Agha and Sahibzada Farhan continued the positive approach as they took the attack to the opposition and added quick-fire 67 runs before the skipper departed for 38 off 23 balls.

With Salman Agha back, Sahibzada became the chief aggressor as he reached his fifty in just 37 deliveries, and the opening batter pressed the accelerator to torment the Namibia attack. Surprisingly, Pakistan’s star batter, Babar Azam was unused as the team made a tactical decision to promote Khawaja Nafay at 4, and then Shadab Khan at 5.

While Nafay was dismissed cheaply, Shadab unleashed himself on the Namibian bowlers, as he, alongside Sahibzada, made a mockery of the Namibian attack. The Pakistan opener smashed 11 fours and 4 sixes as he took just 20 deliveries after reaching the fifty-mark to reach his maiden T20I century.

In the process, he became the second player from his nation after Ahmed Shehzad to score a. T20 World Cup ton. The brilliant innings from Sahibzada, alongside Shadab's finishing touches helped the Men in Green post 199/3.

Namibia tried but crumbled under pressure

Chasing a mammoth 200, Namibia were off to a decent start as the openers, Louren Steenkamp and Jan Frylinck, added 32 runs inside the first four overs. However, the team then lost two quick wickets as the side was pushed on the back foot inside the powerplay.

Once the two wickets departed, the Pakistan spinners starngled the Namibian batters as they lost 4 wickets inside the first 10 overs. Once the backbone of the side was dismantled inside the first 10 overs, the Namibian batting lineup crumbled as they struggled to score quick runs in front of the Pakistani spinners.

As the match progressed, spinners came into play, and the Namibian batters couldn’t handle the Pakistan spin bowlers, as the Men in Green decimated the opposition to seal their place in the next round with three wins out of four.

Usman Tariq finished with 4 wickets to his name, while fellow spinner, Shadab Khan plucked 3 wickets as Namibia were all-out for 97.