# T20 World Cup 2026: Farhan’s 100 and Spin Sink Namibia as Pakistan Qualify for Super Eights

URL: https://technosports.co.in/t20-world-cup-2026-farhans-100-sink-namibia/  
Published: 2026-02-19  
Updated: 2026-02-19  
Author: Ankush Mallick

Sahibzada Farhan settled Pakistan’s nerves with a blazing unbeaten hundred as Namibia were outgunned by 102 runs in Colombo on February 18, 2026, to end any doubts about Pakistan’s progression to the [T20 World Cup](https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/mens-t20-world-cup-2026) Super Eight. With 11 fours and four sixes, Farhan produced a perfect burst of acceleration against a toiling attack, with his second fifty coming from just 20 balls of his 58-ball century. Pakistan’s four-man spin cohort sealed the most comprehensive win of their campaign.

Mohammad Nawaz led a mid-innings squeeze with 1 for 22 in four overs, before Shadab Khan and Usman Tariq dovetailed for each of Namibia’s last seven wickets. Shadab finished with 3 for 19, while Tariq’s extraordinary repertoire of carrom balls and delayed-release leggies proved unfathomable to Namibia’s lower order, as he claimed career-best figures of 4 for 16. Namibia managed just 97 all out in 17.3 overs.

## Match Summary

Pakistan needed a victory to keep USA at bay. They batted first and got off to a slow start in the powerplay, with Saim Ayub’s 14 from 12 balls comprising two leading edges and a flying nick for four past the keeper. Farhan’s first boundary came via a misfield in the covers. But Pakistan settled by degrees, with Farhan finding his range against Ruben Trumpelmann (back-to-back fours including a slog through midwicket) and then Willem Myburgh (three vast sixes including back-to-back slog-sweeps).

Farhan reached his 37-ball half-century in the 12th over, then accelerated violently to bring up his maiden T20I hundred — the third of the tournament — in the 17th over off just 57 balls. Salman Agha contributed 38 from 23 balls before holing out to mid-off, and Shadab Khan helped propel the last six overs to 78 runs as Pakistan finished on 199 for 3.

![T20 World Cup 2026](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Pakistan-vs-Namibia-1-819x1024.jpg)

In the chase, Namibia reached 32 for 0 after four overs, but Salman Mirza bowled Jan Frylinck through the gate and Jan Loftie-Eaton ran himself out attempting a non-existent run to mid-off. Nawaz then top-edged Louren Steenkamp for 23, and Shadab snicked off captain Gerhard Erasmus in his first over. Tariq entered in the 12th over and bowled Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz with perfect googlies before Willem Myburgh snicked off to a legbreak to cap Pakistan’s 102-run victory.

### Match Scorecard

| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pakistan | 199/3 | 20.0 | Won by 102 runs |
| Namibia | 97 | 17.3 | All out |

**Player of the Match:** Sahibzada Farhan (100* off 58) **Cricinfo’s MVP:** Sahibzada Farhan (98.21 pts) **Venue:** SSC, Colombo **Date:** February 18, 2026 **Pakistan’s biggest T20 World Cup win:** 102 runs **Farhan’s hundred:** Third century of T20 World Cup 2026 (new tournament record) **Babar Azam:** Did not bat (rare DNB) **Shaheen Afridi:** Dropped from XI

## First Innings: Pakistan’s Batting (199/3 in 20 Overs)

### Slow Build From Pakistan — Powerplay Struggles

Pakistan’s batting powerplay was rarely convincing, yet still did the needful in spite of some ugly moments. Ayub’s 14 from 12 balls comprised two leading edges and a flying nick for four past the keeper. Farhan’s first boundary came via a misfield in the covers, and his second to a similarly wild hack through deep third off Jack Brassell, moments after he had flung his bat through square leg while mistiming a cut through point.

By degrees, Pakistan settled into their work. Namibia rang in the changes, rotating through six options in their first eight overs. But it was their two bowlers serving up back-to-back overs who inadvertently released the mounting pressure.

### Farhan Finds Range — Back-to-Back Fours and Three Sixes

Farhan found his range with back-to-back fours off Ruben Trumpelmann, including an unrepentant slog through midwicket, then took his new-found poise out on Willem Myburgh. The legspinner’s first over had gone for just five; his second realized three vast sixes, with Farhan contributing back-to-back slog-sweeps. Though he ended the same over in a heap after jarring his knee during a drive, the shackles were officially off.

### Pakistan Batting — Build-Up Phase

| Phase | Score | Notable |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Powerplay | — | Ayub 14 from 12 (two leading edges, flying nick for four); Farhan’s first boundary via misfield in covers; second wild hack through deep third off Brassell |
| Namibia rotation | — | Six options in first eight overs; two bowlers back-to-back released pressure |
| Farhan vs Trumpelmann | — | Back-to-back fours including unrepentant slog through midwicket |
| Farhan vs Myburgh | — | Three vast sixes including back-to-back slog-sweeps (Myburgh’s first over: 5 runs; second: three sixes); jarred knee during drive |

### Farhan Into Overdrive — 37-Ball Fifty, Then 57-Ball Hundred

Farhan nudged the first ball of the 12th over through midwicket to bring up a 37-ball half-century. Twenty balls later, he did likewise to Gerhard Erasmus to cavort through to his maiden T20I hundred. His was also the third century of this year’s tournament — a new record.

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sahibzada-Farhan-1-1024x683.jpg)
*Sahibzada Farhan*

In between, his acceleration was violent and unrelenting, though it did not begin in earnest until the 15th over, when Trumpelmann’s slower balls were collared for back-to-back fours down the ground. JJ Smit’s left-arm spin was then smoked for 17 runs, including two more fours and a baseball slug for six. Brassell’s last over was sent for 20, with Farhan marching into the 90s as he hoisted a slower ball over fine leg for his fourth six.

### Salman Agha and Shadab Khan Propel Final Surge

Salman Agha played a vital part in Pakistan’s uptick. His 38 from 23 balls included three fours and two sixes, as he helped propel his team to 107 for 1 after 12 overs. He was livid with himself when he holed out to mid-off with his job far from done, and Khawaja Nafay’s five-ball stay meant Pakistan were soon in familiar danger at 118 for 3 in the 14th over. But in came Shadab, pushed up to No. 5 ahead of Babar Azam, to help Farhan thrash 78 runs from the final six overs of their innings.

### Pakistan Batting Performance

| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Saim Ayub | 14 | 12 | Two leading edges; flying nick for four past keeper |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 100* | 58 | 11 fours, 4 sixes; first boundary via misfield; back-to-back fours off Trumpelmann (slog through midwicket); three sixes off Myburgh (back-to-back slog-sweeps); jarred knee during drive; 37-ball fifty (12th over); 57-ball hundred (maiden T20I ton; 3rd of tournament, new record); back-to-back fours off Trumpelmann 15th over; 17 off Smit (two fours, baseball slug six); 20 off Brassell’s last (slower ball over fine leg, 4th six) |
| Salman Agha | 38 | 23 | Three fours, two sixes; 107/1 after 12 overs; holed out mid-off (livid with himself) |
| Khawaja Nafay | — | 5 | 118/3 in 14th over |
| Shadab Khan | — | — | Pushed up to No. 5 ahead of Babar; helped Farhan thrash 78 from final 6 overs |
| Babar Azam | DNB | — | Rare did not bat |

**Final 6 overs:** 78 runs

### Namibia Bowling Performance

| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jack Brassell | 38 | 2 | Farhan’s wild hack through deep third; last over sent for 20 (slower ball hoisted over fine leg for Farhan’s 4th six) |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | — | 0 | Back-to-back fours off him by Farhan (slog through midwicket); 15th over: slower balls collared for back-to-back fours down ground |
| Willem Myburgh | — | 0 | Legspinner; first over: 5 runs; second over: three vast sixes (Farhan back-to-back slog-sweeps) |
| JJ Smit | — | 0 | Left-arm spin smoked for 17 (two fours, baseball slug six by Farhan) |

**Namibia rotation:** Six options in first eight overs

## Second Innings: Namibia’s Chase (97 All Out in 17.3 Overs)

### Steenkamp Threatens Briefly — 32 for 0 After Four

Namibia needed ten an over from the outset. Faheem Ashraf was an unlikely candidate bowling the first over, with Shaheen Afridi dropped after some leaky displays. Ashraf’s introduction looked doubly sketchy when Louren Steenkamp picked his third-ball slower ball to pump him over the sightscreen.

Pakistan’s frailties were apparent in the same over. Nawaz dropped a sitter at deep midwicket off Jan Frylinck. At 32 for 0 after four overs, Namibia were putting up a decent challenge.

### Pakistan Spinners Seal Victory — Nawaz, Shadab, Tariq

Salman Mirza switched ends to bowl Frylinck through the gate for 9, and when Jan Loftie-Eaton ruined his strong start by attempting a non-existent run to Agha at mid-off, the downturn was swift and decisive. Nawaz made amends for his catching by luring Steenkamp into a top-edged swipe for 23, and four balls later, Shadab snicked off captain Erasmus with a big legbreak in his first over.

Nawaz led a mid-innings squeeze with 1 for 22 in his four overs. Shadab was the main character of the victory surge, finishing with 3 for 19, the last of them coming via a superb diving catch at square leg from Saim Ayub off Zane Green. Shadab himself was also in the act with a smart catch at midwicket to claim the first breakthrough of Tariq’s late entrance.

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Pakistan-1-1024x683.jpg)

Though he didn’t bowl until the 12th over, Tariq’s extraordinary repertoire of carrom balls and delayed-release leggies proved unfathomable to Namibia’s lower order. Ruben Trumpelmann and Bernard Scholtz were both bowled through the gate by perfect googlies, before Willem Myburgh snicked off to a legbreak to cap Tariq’s career-best figures of 4 for 16.

### Namibia Batting Performance

| Batsman | Runs | Balls | Notable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Louren Steenkamp | 23 | — | Pumped Ashraf’s third-ball slower ball over sightscreen; top-edged swipe off Nawaz |
| Jan Frylinck | 9 | — | Nawaz dropped sitter at deep midwicket; bowled through gate by Salman Mirza |
| Jan Loftie-Eaton | — | — | Non-existent run to Agha at mid-off; ran himself out |
| Gerhard Erasmus (c) | — | — | Snicked off by Shadab big legbreak (first over) |
| Zane Green | — | — | Superb diving catch at square leg by Ayub off Shadab |
| Ruben Trumpelmann | — | — | Bowled through gate by Tariq perfect googly |
| Bernard Scholtz | — | — | Bowled through gate by Tariq perfect googly |
| Willem Myburgh | — | — | Snicked off to Tariq legbreak |

**Powerplay:** 32/0 after 4 overs

### Pakistan Bowling Performance

| Bowler | Runs | Wickets | Notable |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Faheem Ashraf | — | 0 | First over (Shaheen dropped); Steenkamp pumped third-ball slower ball over sightscreen; Nawaz dropped sitter at deep midwicket (Frylinck) |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 22 | 1 | Dropped sitter; lured Steenkamp into top-edged swipe; 1/22 in 4 overs; led mid-innings squeeze |
| Salman Mirza | — | 1 | Switched ends; bowled Frylinck through gate |
| Shadab Khan | 19 | 3 | Snicked off Erasmus (big legbreak, first over); superb diving catch at square leg by Ayub (Green); smart catch at midwicket (Tariq’s first breakthrough); 3/19; main character of victory surge |
| Usman Tariq | 16 | 4 | Didn’t bowl until 12th over; extraordinary repertoire (carrom balls, delayed-release leggies); Trumpelmann + Scholtz both bowled through gate (perfect googlies); Myburgh snicked off (legbreak); career-best 4/16 |

**Shaheen Afridi:** Dropped from XI (leaky displays)

## Match-Winning Performances

### Sahibzada Farhan — Player of the Match

| Category | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Batting | 100* off 58 balls |
| Boundaries | 11 fours, 4 sixes |
| Fifty | 37 balls (12th over, nudged through midwicket) |
| Hundred | 57 balls (17th over, to Erasmus through midwicket; maiden T20I ton; 3rd of tournament, new record) |
| Second fifty | Just 20 balls |
| Key moments | Back-to-back fours off Trumpelmann (slog through midwicket); three sixes off Myburgh (back-to-back slog-sweeps); jarred knee during drive; back-to-back fours off Trumpelmann 15th over; 17 off Smit (two fours, baseball slug six); 20 off Brassell’s last (slower ball over fine leg, 4th six) |
| Impact | More runs (100*) than entire Namibia innings (97) |
| MVP Points | 98.21 |

![](https://technosports.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Sahibzada-1-1024x683.jpg)
*Sahibzada Farhan*

### Usman Tariq

| Category | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Bowling | 4 for 16 (career-best) |
| Arsenal | Extraordinary repertoire: carrom balls, delayed-release leggies |
| Key wickets | Trumpelmann (bowled through gate, perfect googly); Scholtz (bowled through gate, perfect googly); Myburgh (snicked off, legbreak) |
| Entry | Didn’t bowl until 12th over; proved unfathomable to lower order |

### Shadab Khan

| Category | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Batting | Pushed up to No. 5 ahead of Babar; helped Farhan thrash 78 from final 6 overs |
| Bowling | 3 for 19 |
| Key moments | Snicked off Erasmus (big legbreak, first over); superb diving catch at square leg by Ayub (Green); smart catch at midwicket (Tariq’s first); main character of victory surge |

Read More: [T20 World Cup 2026: Shivam Dube Propel India to 12th Consecutive T20 WC Win](https://technosports.co.in/t20-world-cup-2026-shivam-dube-propel-india-win/)

## FAQs

### What was the result of Pakistan vs Namibia at T20 World Cup 2026?

Pakistan won by 102 runs — Pakistan posted 199/3 and bowled Namibia out for 97 in 17.3 overs at Colombo.

### How did Sahibzada Farhan perform in the match?

Farhan scored an unbeaten 100 off 58 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes — his maiden T20I century and the third hundred of T20 World Cup 2026, a new tournament record.

### What were Usman Tariq’s bowling figures?

Tariq took career-best 4 for 16, bowling Trumpelmann and Scholtz with perfect googlies through the gate and having Myburgh snick off to a legbreak.

### Did Pakistan qualify for the Super Eights with this win?

Yes. The 102-run victory ended any doubts about Pakistan’s progression to the Super Eights and also ended USA’s hopes of qualification.

### Who was dropped from Pakistan’s XI for this match?

Shaheen Afridi was dropped after some leaky displays in the tournament. Faheem Ashraf bowled the first over instead.