ABU DHABI: In a lop-sided match played here between the men in green and Namibia on Tuesday, Pakistan outclassed the latter comfortably by 45 runs. Pakistan have now cemented their place in the semifinal which will be played on November 11.
With a win over Namibia, Pakistan now have 4 out of 4 wins. Having won the toss, Pakistan opted to bat first. The usual suspects Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan started cautiously before launching a batting assault on the Namibian bowlers in the second half of the first innings. Babar Azam scored yet another half century, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 79 off 50.
Pakistan scored 130 runs in the last 10 overs, losing just two wickets in the process. In reply, the Namibian opening batter Michael van Lingen lost his wicket in the second over to Hassan Ali. Stephen Baard and Craig Williams started the rebuilding process before Baard got run out, courtesy a beautiful pickup throw by Haris Rauf, in the ninth over of the innings.
Namibia kept attacking and losing their wickets before the required run rate went out of their reach. David Wiese top-scored for Namibia with 43 runs followed by Williams with 40; with Hassan, Haris, Imad Wasim, and Shadab Khan picking one wicket each. Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez went wicketless.
Pakistan have qualified for the fifth time for the semifinals out of the seven World T20 editions so far.