PNN: Sahibzada Farhan scored a record century as Pakistan reached 199 for 3 against Namibia in a crucial ICC Men’s T20 World Cup group-stage match at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Pakistan built a strong total in their 20 overs. Farhan remained not out on 100, registering his first T20 International century. Shadab Khan added an unbeaten 36 to strengthen the innings. Captain Salman Ali Agha made 38, Saim Ayub scored 14 and Khawaja Nafay added five runs.
With this knock, Farhan became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in a T20 World Cup.
For Namibia, Jack Brassell took two wickets while Gerhard Erasmus claimed one.
India has already qualified for the Super Eight stage from Group A. The United States is second with four points and a better net run rate than Pakistan. The match is a must-win for Pakistan to stay in contention. However, if rain stops play and no result is possible, one point would still be enough for Pakistan to advance to the Super Eight.
Earlier, defending champions India put on a dominant display against arch-rivals Pakistan in their T20 World Cup clash, winning the match by 61 runs and leading the points table in the group.
Pakistan beat the United States by 32 runs in their T20 World Cup Group A game at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.
Pakistan posted a target of 191, and in response, the United States managed a respectable 158-8 in their 20 overs, with strong performances from opener Shayan Jahangir (49 off 34) and middle-order batsman Shubham Ranjane (51 off 30).
The win avenged Pakistan’s shock defeat at the hands of the USA in the T20 World Cup two years ago and handed them a second win in as many games following their close three-wicket win over the Netherlands on February 7.
Chasing 148 against the Netherlands, Pakistan reached 147 for seven in 19.3 overs, surviving a nervy finish after sustained pressure from the Netherlands during the middle phase of the chase.
Playing XIs
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan and Usman Tariq.
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Zane Green, Bernard Scholtz, Ruben Trumpelmann, JJ Smit, Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Malan Kruger, Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Jack Brassell, Alex Volschenk, JC Balt, Dylan Leicher, WP Myburgh and Max Heingo.