Pakistan set Namibia 200-run target after Farhan’s maiden World Cup ton

COLOMBO: Sahibzada Farhan struck a sparkling unbeaten century to propel Pakistan to 199 for 3 against Namibia in a crucial Group A clash of the T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Pakistan delivered under pressure, posting a formidable 199 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks largely to Farhan’s maiden T20 International hundred.

Farhan remained unbeaten on 100, pacing his innings smartly before accelerating in the closing overs. In the process, he became only the second Pakistani batter after Ahmed Shehzad to score a century in a T20 World Cup.

He shared an unbroken stand with Shadab Khan, who added a brisk 36 not out to ensure Pakistan finished strongly. Captain Salman Ali Agha contributed 38, while Saim Ayub (14) and Khawaja Nafay (5) were unable to convert their starts.

Namibia’s bowlers found it difficult to contain Pakistan’s batters, with Jack Brassell claiming two wickets and captain Gerhard Erasmus taking one.

The match carried significant implications for the group standings. The India national cricket team have already secured a place in the Super Eight stage, while the United States national cricket team are second with four points and a superior net run rate to Pakistan.

Pakistan must win to keep their Super Eight hopes alive; a defeat would end their campaign. However, if rain prevents a full result, a shared point could still see Pakistan progress by a slender margin.

For now, though, it was Farhan who stole the spotlight — delivering a commanding knock when Pakistan needed it most.