Pakistan vs Namibia ICC MT20 WC, 2026, Full Score Card

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! That's it, it's all over for Namibia and Pakistan are officially through to the Super 8s, the final team to do so. Usman Tariq bowls this one a bit flatter and bowls it short and wide. Willem Myburgh goes for the cut but there's a bit of an extra bounce. He ends up edging it behind, where Usman Khan takes another sharp catch to his right. It is reviewed but UltraEdge confirms the thick edge and PAKISTAN WIN BY 102 RUNS.

Is Willem caught behind? The on-field decision is OUT, and he goes upstairs for a review. UltraEdge shows a faint spike when the ball is next to the bat. Usman Tariq finishes off with career-best T20I figures of 4/16, including a maiden in 3.3 overs.

Flatter delivery on off and middle, punched down to long on for a single.

Pakistan are almost there. Jack Brassell is the last man in for Namibia.

OUT! TIMBER! Another wrong'un from Usman Tariq and he has three wickets to his name, just like Shadab Khan. Tariq brings out the googly, landing it slightly full and around off. Bernard Scholtz leans ahead to drive on the off side but is beaten in the flight. The ball turns back in to clatter into the middle stump and Pakistan are now just on wicket away from the win.

Flighted up on off, Willem Myburgh manages to keep it out.

Fuller on middle, smothered back to the bowler.

Oh, how has that missed the stumps? A big googly from Shadab, lands it full and on off. The ball pitches and turns back in sharply, beating the attempted front-foot block from Myburgh. However, it bounces over middle and leg.

Flatter, on middle, nudged away to mid-wicket for a single.

Pakistan are just 2 wickets away from qualifying for the Super 8s. Bernard Scholtz is in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT! Looked like a decent hit from Zane Green but that's a terrific catch in the deep from Saim Ayub. Shadab Khan tosses the ball up, full on middle and leg. Green sits down to sweep and batters it flat over backward square leg. Saim runs in from the deep and puts in a lunging dive to snaffle it with both hands. Difficult to pick it under the lights and the replays confirm that it is a fair catch. Namibia are now 8 down.

Is that a clean catch? The umpires have sent it upstairs for a review to check the legality of the catch. Saim dived forward in the outfield to scoop the ball before the grass. But are his fingers completely under the ball? The third umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, deems it a clean catch after checking a couple of angles. A superb catch by Saim Ayub as OUT loads on the giant screen.

Flatter around middle, tapped across to mid-wicket for a single.

Would you believe it? A third triple of the over, 11 coming off it in total. On middle and leg, tucked away wide to the left of Babar Azam at short fine leg. Faheem Ashraf from deep square leg hurries to his right and manages to put in a slide and just keep the ball in play. Easy three this time for the batters.

Dragged length around off, goes away, Myburgh taps it in front of point.

Three runs more. Flighted up around middle and leg, Zane Green lunges across and paddles it down to fine leg. Mohammad Nawaz makes a lot of ground to his left in the deep and puts in a dive to save the boundary as the batters come back for the third run.

Full and on the pads, nudged away through the square leg region for a couple of runs.

Around the wicket to the left-hander, looped up very full and angled into the pads. Green looks to defend in front but gets beaten on the inside edge and gets hit on the front pad. Half a shout for LBW and nothing more.

Excellent running. A googly on the pads, Willem Myburgh nurdles it away past Babar Azam at leg gully and the ball trickles away. Babar gives chase and stops the boundary, but the batters manage to pick up three runs.

Pushed across the batter, full and outside off, Zane Green strides ahead to block, but gets an inside edge as the ball rolls to the leg side.

Full, outside off, drilled down and wide of long off for a single.

Short ball around middle, 83.2 kph. Willem backs away and chops it off the inside edge to backward point. Nawaz and the keeper appeal for LBW, but the umpire denies. After a lot of pondering, Pakistan go for a review. But the first replay itself shows that it hit the bat first. They lose the review. Mark Howard, on air, jokingly says that never listen to the bowler. To which Waqar Younis laughs it off.

Nice and full, on off, pushed gently back to the bowler.

Tries to get a bit funky out there. A tad shorter in length, spins in with a bit of bounce. Zane Green switches the stance to reverse sweep, but gets a bit of top edge as the ball flies over short third for a single.

Tries to flick the full ball to the leg side, but the ball pops up from the pitch, beats the bat and pings the front pad.

A full ball outside off, Willem strides in to drive but misses. The keeper collects the ball to his right and flicks the bails, but Myburgh’s back foot is safely coasted inside the crease.

A short delivery on the pads, 79.9 kph. Willem gets forward, tries to defend it, but misses and it hits a bit high on the back thigh pad.

A carrom ball, full and on middle, flicked out of the fingers. Spins prodigiously away from the batter. Willem Myburgh is drawn forward to block, but gets beaten all ends up on the outside edge.

Usman Tariq is putting on a show and he's just too hot to handle for the Namibian batters. Willem Myburgh walks out to bat at number 9.

OUT! BOWLED! Totally outfoxed and Usman has his second wicket. Another googly, flighted above the eyeline of the batter. Full and around off, spins back in very sharply. Ruben Trumpelmann gets half forward to push it away, but is completely outplayed by the variation as the ball sneaks past his inside edge and crashes back onto the stumps. Looking at the replays, it is a bit different than a regular googly and Waqar Younis on air describes it as a carrom ball bowled in the form of a googly.

A lengthy appeal for LBW, but not given. Dishes out a googly, full and on the leg stump line. Ruben Trumpelmann is sucked onto the front foot, tries to block, but the ball spins back in sharply, beats the inside edge and thuds the front pad before rolling away. Pakistan do not review it as it is possibly going down leg.

DRINKS! Namibia are going down in a hurry now. They went from 32/0 to 49/4 and now they have lost a couple of quick wickets again, derailing any sort of progress. The mantra for Pakistan seems to be 'spin to win' right now and they are doing a fine job of consolidating a place in the Super 8s. With every passing over, it seems like USA's campaign is coming to an end and the focus will now be on whether Namibia can get to a decent total or not as they look to finish their campaign on a positive note. With that said, Ruben Trumpelmann walks out to bat now.

OUT! CAUGHT! Tariq strikes now. He holds the pause, sees the batter shuffle wide outside the off stump and follows the batter. Pitched on a length, outside off, cramping the batter for room as JJ Smit tries to drag it leg side with a slog sweep. Ends up badly mistiming it off the top edge. The ball spoons up over mid-wicket and Shadab Khan tracks back a few yards, keeps his eyes locked on the ball and takes a fine running catch. Namibia are 81/6.

A googly, on a length, on middle, JJ Smit tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Short, and slower on leg, Zane pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Short, on off, Green defends in front.

End of a steady 5th wicket stand, and a new batter walks out to bat now. It is Zane Green at number 7 for Namibia.

OUT! STUMPED! Clever bowling from Shadab as he gets his second wicket. A perfect leg spinner wicket. A flighted, full delivery outside off, a teasing leg break that drifts away. Alexander steps out, looking to launch it downtown, but misses connecting as he loses his shape, trying to hit it too hard. Usman reacts instantly, collecting to his right and whipping the bails off in a flash. Alexander is caught short and Namibia are 79/5, chasing 200.

Very slow through the air, fuller and on the leg stump. Alexander Volschenk gets on the front foot and flicks it to the vacant mid-wicket region for a couple of runs. Usman Khan himself rushes across to chase the ball with a slide. Tries to throw, but cannot release the ball properly off his right hand as he slips.

Sharp leg break, fractionally full, 82.2 kph, on middle, JJ Smit chips it through mid on for a single.

JAFFA! A deceptive carrom ball, on a fuller length, on off. It lands and spins sharply across the bat's face with extra bounce and beats Alexander's attempted front foot block.

A touch short, spinning in from outside off, JJ Smit presses back and punches it down to long off for a single.

Offers more flight, full and on middle, Alexander Volschenk advances down the track and drills it through wide mid on for a single.

There comes the dramatic pause again, an off break on a fuller length, on off. JJ flicks it to the leg side, in front of square, for one more.

Full and on middle, Alexander Volschenk shimmies down the track and whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Pauses for a bit, bowls full and around off, Alexander Volschenk leans on and dabs it to backward point.

Time for Usman Tariq? Yes, finally, the mystery spinner makes an appearance, replacing Shadab Khan in the attack.

An in-drifter, full and on leg, Alexander Volschenk gets across and dinks it through mid-wicket for an easy single.

Nice and full, on the stumps, Volschenk blocks.

SIX! KABOOM! Tosses it up, full and on leg, Alexander Volschenk brings his long levers into play and pumps it down the ground. The ball teases Babar Azam at long on but sails over the ropes for a six.

Short, on off, Alexander Volschenk hangs deep in the crease and cuts it to backward point.

WIDE! Far outside off, beyond the guideline, Alexander leaves.

Nicely looped up, on middle, JJ Smit takes it on the full and bunts it down to long on for a single.

A touch short, on middle and leg, Alexander Volschenk gets across and nudges it between mid-wicket and square leg for a single.

Halfway reached. Namibia are crawling at 62/4 and need 138 runs from 60 balls. Still, no Usman Tariq. Mohammad Nawaz (2-0-10-1) to continue.

On the shorter side and wide outside off, Smit reaches for it and stabs the ball down to backward point. Namibia are 62/4 after the first 10 overs.

Flatter one outside off, punched away square on the off side for a single by Volschenk.

WIDE! That's prodigious turn. On a fullish length and outside off, Volschenk steps out of the crease but sees the ball turnig away a mile and taps his bat back in the crease. Called a wide as well.

Fuller one down leg, nudged away off the pads behind square leg for just a single.

Fracionally short, outside off, patted down off the back foot to the right of point.

Tossed up on leg stump, driven down to long on for a run.

Almost another unnecessary run out for Namibia. Tossed up on off, turning away, Volschenk dabs it to backward point and JJ Smit at the other end wanders down the pitch before scampering back in time.

Floated, full and on off, eased towards cover-point.

Dragged length outside off, Smit backs away and pokes the ball through the gap at covers for a couple of runs.

Drifted into the stumps, JJ Smit blocks it down the pitch.

Slightly shorter around off, dabbed into the off side for a single.

A bit of cat and mouse between the batter and the bowler. Volschenk premeditates and shuffles across. Nawaz sees it and slows it up, turning it away from outside off. Volschenk tries to reverse ramp but misses and the ball goes to Salman Agha at first slip.

FOUR! Solid shot! Flat and full, on off and middle, Volschenk takes the front leg out and pummels it back past the bowler for a boundary. Mohammad Nawaz doesn't even attempt the catch because that was hit so hard.

Full and on the pads, clipped away past Usman Tariq at mid-wicket for a single. Looked like a misfield from Tariq.

A big appeal for LBW, turned down. Probably hitting outside the line. Shadab brings out the googly, tossing it up on a good length and bowling it just outside off. Alexander Volschenk doesn't read it and tries to block but the ball darts back in and hits the front pad. No review is taken.

Full and straight, driven down to long on for a single. The 50 is now up for Namibia.

It is spiralling downward for Namibia with their best batter gone now. Out goes skipper Erasmus, and in walks JJ Smit at number 6.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! That's sharp work behind the stumps from Usman Khan. Just a regulation leg break from Shadab Khan, a few inches shorter than being full and just outside off. Gerhard Erasmus waits back to dab it fine but ends up deflecting it behind. Usman moves swiftly to his right and pouches it nicely. 32/0 has now become 49/4 for Namibia.

On middle and leg, tucked away to the left of deep mid-wicket and the batters race back for the second run.

FOUR! Too short and punished right away. Poor start from Shadab, bowling it very short and outside off. Gerhard Erasmus stays back and scythes it away between backward point and short third for a boundary.

Flat and full on middle, defended down the line by Alexander Volschenk.

So three quick wickets for Pakistan. 32/0 becomes 43/3 for Namibia. Alexander Volschenk walks in at number 5.

OUT! CAUGHT! Another one bites the dust and Namibia are in deep trouble right now. Tossed up, on a length and aroud middle. This one grips a bit and turns away. Louren Steenkamp goes deep in the crease and looks to slog across the line and against the turn, instead of looking to hit down the ground. Steenkamp completely miscues it up in the air and the ball comes down to the right of the bowler. However, the keeper, Usman Khan, calls for it early and pouches it safely as well.

Dragged length over middle, Steenkamp rocks back and punches it down to the right of the bowler.

Tossed up on middle, Erasmus gets on the front foot and smothers it down to long on for one.

WIDE! Slightly round-arm, lobbed up down the leg side. Erasmus looks to tuck it fine but misses.

Slower and shorter, turning away from outside off. Steenkamp taps it through the cover region for a single.

Flighted up, on a nagging length and around off. Steenkamp hangs back and chops it down to point.

A profitable Powerplay for Pakistan. Namibia are 40/2. At the same stage, Pakistan were 47/1. Mohammad Nawaz is introduced into the attack. He replaces Salman Mirza.

A dot to end the Powerplay and Namibia are 40/2. Nice and full again, just outside off, Gerhard Erasmus eases it towards cover. 160 more needed off 84 balls.

Slower through the air again, on off, not all that full. Erasmus lunges to defend.

Dragged length, bowled onto the pads, Steenkamp fails to flick it away. The ball goes off the pads and towards backward square leg for a leg bye.

Flighted ball, bowled full and outside off, Steenkamp drives it along the turf to covers.

DRINKS BREAK. A couple of quick wickets have brought Pakistan right on top of the game. They didn't have a good start as they dropped an early catch, and served a few looseners as well, but have recovered well. There have been flashes of intent from Namibia, but they are pushed for a massive reconstruction job now as Gerhard Erasmus arrives at the crease at number 4. It is on the Namibian captain to steady the ship and take the game as deep as possible with a stable partnership in this middle phase.

OUT! JAN NICOLE LOFTIE-EATON IS RUN OUT! Seemed like a well-judged single to begin with but unfortunately for Namibia, it is a run out and they didn't need that one bit. Loftie-Eaton backs away early and Saim Ayub follows him with a flatter delivery from around the stumps. Loftie-Eaton taps it straight to extra cover and sets off for the single. Salman Agha picks it up and throws it to the bowler. Saim whips off the bails and the smart replay confirms that the batter is short of his crease. Namibia are now 39/2.

Floated up around middle and leg, Louren Steenkamp strokes it down to long off for a single.

The nip-backer on a good length, on top of off, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton stays back and tries to pierce the point gap, but hits it straight to the fielder. Lets out a grunt in frustration for not getting it through.

FOUR! Good, positive intent! Mirza serves it on a fuller length, on the off stump line. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton walks out of the crease, gets under the ball and lofts it inside out over the cover fielder for a boundary.

BEAUTY! Angles in and then seams away, on a good length, around off. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton does not move his feet at all, tries to block away from the body and the ball zips past his outside edge.

Banged short, on the leg stump. Louren duck-pulls it wide of square leg for a single.

Slants in from middle, full in length, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton nudges it to the mid-wicket region for a single.

Salman Mirza breaks the brewing stand and the new batter walks out. Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton walks in at number 3.

OUT! BOWLED! A bit of a relief in the Pakistan camp as Mirza provides the first breakthrough. He goes at pace, lands it full and attacks the stumps. Jan Frylinck shuffles to the leg side by exposing the stumps, attempts to carve it through the off side, but the ball nips and skids back in, beats the bat, and crashes into the stumps behind. A corker of a delivery from Mirza. Namibia are 32/1, chasing 200.

Salman Mirza (1-0-5-0) switches ends, replacing Faheem Ashraf.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Short and wide, Louren Steenkamp frees his arms on the back foot and cuts it behind backward point for a cracking boundary.

BEATEN! Peach of a delivery by Ayub. Dishes out one more carrom ball, on a fractionally fuller length, outside off. It grips, spins, and bounces away from the batter. Louren Steenkamp is sucked onto the front foot, tries to push it away inside out, but the ball spins past the face of the bat. Usman Khan collects the ball to his right and whips the bails off in a flash, but Steenkamp drags his back leg inside in time.

FOUR! Wonderful batting! Another carrom ball, but sliding down leg on a fuller length. Louren Steenkamp gets across, sits down and paddle sweeps it using his wrists and gets a one-bounce boundary to long leg.

The carrom ball now at just 80 kph, full and on off, Louren Steenkamp presses in front and eases it to the point region.

At 84.2 kph, this is dragged back and it turns away from middle. Frylinck backs away and slashes it to cover for a single.

From around the stump. Saim bowls a full ball, 83.3 kph, on middle, Jan Frylinck leans on and blocks it watchfully.

Time for some spin as Saim Ayub has now been tossed the ball, replacing Salman Mirza.

Pitched outside leg, on a good length, Jan Frylinck presses back and pulls it to deep square leg for a single. 8 runs from the over.

Full and in front of the sticks, Steenkamp stays leg side and eases it in the cover-point region for a quick single.

FOUR! A shot of authority! Hard length, on off, angling in. Louren Steenkamp clears his front leg, plays it with a straight bat and on the up. Clobbers it powerfully over mid on for a boundary.

On a good length, angling from leg to off, Jan Frylinck presses back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

Sahibzada Farhan is back out in the field, which is good news for Pakistan as the knee isn't as big a concern as expected.

Back of a length, outside off, Louren Steenkamp gets on the toes and punches it between cover and backward point for a run.

Much fuller, on middle, Louren heaves it off the inner half of the bat to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Excellent placement and timing! On a back of a length, just outside off, Jan Frylinck lets the ball arrive, stays put, opens the bat face and guides it to the left of short third for a boundary.

WIDE! Shapes away beyond the tramline, at 137.3 kph, outside off, Jan Frylinck tries to drive it away, but fails to connect.

Nips back in and stays a bit low on the bounce, on a length, on middle and leg. Jan Frylinck is rushed on the back foot, tries to pull, but the ball beats the inside edge and pings on the thigh pad.

Also, Shaheen Afridi is on the field as a replacement fielder, probably on for Sahibzada Farhan, who might be off the field for a knee injury. Remember, you cannot go off the field for cramps under the current laws of cricket.

Full and around off, Jan Frylinck gets on the front foot and carves it to short cover.

On a back of a length, on top of middle, Jan Frylinck covers the line, gets a bit squared up and blocks it down the pitch.

Swings in a touch, full in length, Louren Steenkamp misses the flick and the ball deflects to the leg side for a leg bye.

Full and on middle and off, Louren Steenkamp pushes it to cover.

The two sides of Pakistan's fielding on show in that first over. A brilliant effort from Salman Mirza followed by a pretty ordinary one from Mohammad Nawaz. It will be Mirza now to share the new ball alongside Faheem Ashraf.

IN THE AIR... DROPPED! Nawaz has put down an absolute dolly. A short ball just outside off, cross seam. Jan Frylinck goes on the back foot and pulls it off the toe-end. Nawaz dives to his right from deep square leg, gets both hands down and lets it slip. That was a routine chance and the one to be taken. They get a couple of runs.

A bit short and angling away from the left-hander, outside off, Frylinck drags the bat inside the line and lets it go.

Short in length, nipping back into the batter. Louren is taken aback by the extra bit of bounce, tries to pull but the ball hits his right shoulder and flies flat to the left of short third. Salman Mirza flings himself to that direction, tries to take it airborne, but shells it in the end. They get a leg bye. Regardless, a fantastic effort by Mirza.

SIX! Off the mark in some style! Very ordinary ball, half volley on middle, a slower one. Louren Steenkamp gets under the ball and pumps it straight as an arrow, down the ground for a massive six.

Back of a length, in the channel on off. Louren plays off the back foot and punches it to cover.

On the money! Full and outside off, Louren Steenkamp gets on the front foot and drives it, but straight to cover.

A dot to end the innings, and they will not get to 200! Gerhard Erasmus nails the wide yorker, outside off, just inside the tramline. Sahibzada Farhan leaves it alone, thinking it is a wide, but the umpire signals nothing. Pakistan finish on 199/3!

Quicker and shorter, on middle, Shadab Khan punches it to long on for one. Can Pakistan get to 200?

SIX! Shadab Khan goes big again! This is bowled with a round-arm action, on a length, on middle. Shadab drops on a knee and nails the slog sweep over deep mid-wicket for a six.

SIX! Straight as an arrow! Tossed up, full and on off, in the slot. Shadab Khan gets his front leg out of the way and clubs it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

WIDE! Fires this one full but down the leg side, Shadab Khan fails to paddle it away. Wided.

HUNDRED FOR FARHAN! A maiden T20I century, and this has been an amazing knock under pressure. Floated, full and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan clips it through mid-wicket for a run. He punches the air straightaway in celebration. He becomes only the second Pakistani to score a ton in Men's T20 World Cups after Ahmed Shehzad in 2014.

Gerhard Erasmus bowls with a round-arm action, drops it short and around off, Shadab Khan punches it to sweeper cover for a single.

Time for the final over. A fresh pair of gloves for Sahibzada Farhan. Gerhard Erasmus has taken it upon himself to close out the innings. 2-0-9-1 so far for Namibia's skipper.

Excellent over from Ruben Trumpelmann! Just 6 runs off it! Fuller and outside off. Shadab Khan lofts it wide of long off for one more. He wants the second, but Farhan sends him back.

WIDE! Just misses the wide yorker this time, spilling it outside the tramline. Shadab Khan lets it go. Called a wide.

Right in the blockhole, around off, Sahibzada Farhan jams it out to long off for one. Can Ruben Trumpelmann finish well here?

Overpitched and near the wide tramline, on off. Shadab Khan reaches out and slices it to sweeper cover for a run.

Ruben Trumpelmann sticks to the fuller length and serves this well outside off. Shadab Khan shuffles across early to scoop it but plays all over it.

Full again and outside off, Shadab Khan shapes up for the sweep again but adjusts and drives it wide of long off for a brace.

A good wide yorker, outside off, Shadab Khan gets down and across to swipe it away but misses. He has a look at the umpire but gets nothing.

37 runs off the last 2 overs. Two more overs left in the innings. Ruben Trumpelmann (3-0-30-0) will bowl the 19th over.

Back of a length and around off, Shadab Khan makes room and carves it to deep point for one. 20 runs off the over. 200 is on for Pakistan now.

SIX! Shadab Khan joins the party bow! Jack Brassell tries the slower bouncer, on middle, but this is never going to trouble the batter. Shadab picks it up early and just helps it on its way over the fine leg fence for half a dozen more.

Pitched up and on off, Sahibzada Farhan drills it towards long off for a single.

MISFIELD AND FOUR! Short of a length and outside off, Sahibzada Farhan cuts it away hard towards point. Willem Myburgh dives to his right but over the ball and lets it through for a boundary. The wheels are coming off now for Namibia. Also, the 50-run stand comes up between these two batters.

SIX! Sahibzada Farhan moves into the 90s now! Jack Brassell errs in his line and serves this full and down the leg side. Farhan gets inside the line of it and whips it over the deep fine leg fence for a flat six.

Hard length and on middle, angling in, Sahibzada Farhan nudges it away through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! JJ Smit goes short again and outside off. Shadab Khan sees the width and slashes hard at it. Gets an outside edge that flies over short third and to the fence behind for four more runs. 17 runs off the over.

Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan rolls his wrists and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! The runs are starting to flow now! Too full from Smit, on off, right in the slot. Sahibzada Farhan gets underneath it and smacks it past the bowler and between long on and long off for a boundary. Farhan moves to 84, this is now his highest score in T20Is.

A slight hold-up as the fourth umpire has made his way out with the box of balls. Looks like the ball landed on a hard surface beyond the boundary ropes, and that has had an impact on its condition. We are all good to go now.

SIX! BOOM! Sahibzada Farhan is batting on a different planet. JJ Smit lands this back of a length and around off, but this one sits up nicely for the batter. Farhan climbs onto it and muscles it over the bowler's head for half a dozen more.

Fuller delivery and around off, Shadab Khan goes down and swipes it to deep square leg for a single.

Just short! JJ Smit sees the batter move across, lands this short of a length and outside off. Sahibzada Farhan slaps it but does not get power on the shot. It flies towards extra cover, where the fielder dives to his front but the ball drops just in front of him. They cross.

JJ Smit returns to the attack. 2-0-11-0 so far for the left-arm medium pacer.

Flighted, full and on off, Sahibzada Farhan eases it to long off for one. Bernard Scholtz finishes his spell wicketless. His figures read 4-0-33-0.

FOUR! Powered away! Tossed up, full and on off. Sahibzada Farhan extends his arms to get under it and thumps it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Quicker delivery, shortish and on middle, keeps low, Shadab Khan backs away and punches it through covers for one.

Flatter, full and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan drives it to long off for another run.

Goes short again, on leg, Shadab Khan moves around in his crease and nudges it through mid-wicket for a run.

Shorter in length and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan rocks back and pulls it hard but straight to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a back of a length, around off, Farhan punches it to long off and keeps the strike with a single. 10 runs off the over.

FOUR! To the other side of the mid off fielder this time. Ruben Trumpelmann bangs it in short, pushed across the batter again. Farhan gets on his toes and reaches out. He slaps it between cover and mid off and picks up another boundary.

FOUR! Crunched! Off-cutter, on a length, around off. Sahibzada gets the front leg out of the way and smacks it down the ground. Shadab Khan is in the firing line but he does well to duck quickly and the mid off fielder stands no chance.

Across off, on a back of a length, Khan punches it through covers and crosses over.

Shadab Khan gives the charge but misses. Fuller and outside off, Shadab dances down the track and swings to go big on the off side but is beaten as the ball leaves him with the angle.

Goes past the bat! Effort behind the ball by Ruben Trumpelmann, on a back of a length, around the off stump. Shadab walks across the stumps and hangs his bat out to cover the line but is beaten on the inside edge.

Fuller and on off, knocked to long off for a single.

Shorter and on middle, Shadab stays back and nudges it in front of deep square leg. He comes charging back for the second run and gets home before the throw comes in.

Very full, on off, Shadab digs it out on the off side.

Nicely bowled! This is slower through the air, on a nagging length, on middle. Shadab looks to deal with it from the crease but is beaten by the turn and gets hit high on the pads.

Two wickets in two consecutive overs for Namibia. With that, the umpires have called in for DRINKS as well. The last two overs have shifted a bit of momentum again, and now the role of Sahibzada Farhan becomes even more important. He is the set batter and a lot depends on him if Pakistan want to get to a big total here. Namibia will want to build on the last couple of overs and pull things back even more as they know all the pressure in this game is on their opponents. Also, Shadab Khan is the next man in.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! A brief stay for Khawaja Nafay. Full and attacking the stumps, bowled from a yard behind the crease. Nafay gets down on a knee and goes hard on the slog sweep. He loses his shape in the process and a top edge is found. It is skied towards the mid on region. Erasmus turns around and goes after it. Keeps his eyes on the ball all the way through and snaffles it safely. A couple of quick wickets for Namibia.

Pushed through, short and outside off, Nafay has a flash at it but misses.

Angled in, on a back of a length, on middle. Sahibzada brings his wrists into play and turns it in between deep mid-wicket and deep square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Smashed! Too short and wide on off, asking to be hit. Farhan obliges as he gets on his toes and thumps it between cover and mid off for a four.

On off, on the shorter side, pulled in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Into the deck, over middle, Nafay taps it down the strip.

FOUR! Khawaja Nafay is up and running! On a hard length, on off, Nafay stands tall on his toes and steers it down with an open bat face to the left of backward point for a four to get going.

The 67-run partnership has been broken. No Babar Azam, it is Khawaja Nafay who comes out to the middle now.

OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal. Jack Brassell strikes on his return to the attack. Salman Agha absolutely berates himself as he trudges off. Brassell bowls it on a length, outside off, Agha walks across the stumps and spots mid off being inside the circle. He looks to go over mid off with a straight bat and a high elbow but fails to get any elevation. Spoons it flat and straight to mid off, where Gerhard Erasmus gobbles it up.

Jack Brassell is back on.

Shorter and flatter, on middle, Agha hangs back and nudges it to wide long on for a run. A good over for Pakistan, 14 runs off it.

SIX! Good use of the feet! Floated up, on middle, Salman jumps out of the crease and gets to the pitch of the ball. He swings through the line and tonks it to the left of long on for a six.

FOUR! 100 is up for Pakistan! On a length, on middle, Salman looks to play the fine sweep and gets down on a knee. He fails to roll his wrists over the ball and it flies off a top edge over the keeper for a four.

Short and on middle, pulled through mid-wicket for one.

On a nagging length, on middle, Agha sweeps it behind square leg for a single.

FIFTY FOR FARHAN! Not the most fluent knocks you will ever see but runs are runs. He needs to kick on if Pakistan are to post in excess of 180. Short and around middle and leg, Farhan tucks it to deep backward square leg for a single. Second half-century of the World Cup for Farhan.

Smit pushes it wide, on a shortish length, Sahibzada reaches out and slaps it wide of extra cover. He is keen for the second run and takes a couple of steps forward before being sent back. A wise call from Agha as the fielder in the deep was quick to get to the ball.

Missed out! A bit too wide, on a short of a length, Farhan reaches out and taps the ball on its head but fails to get it wide enough of the man at backward point. It is cut off with a dive.

Smit goes into the deck and outside off, Farhan waits on the slower ball on the back foot and drags the pull to the right of long on for a couple of runs.

On a length, angled away, Agha punches it to long off. With this single, the 50-run stand comes up in 32 balls.

Across off, on a back of a length, Agha goes hard on the cut. Ends up chopping it in front of point.

FOUR! Off the top edge! On a length, on middle and leg. Agha crouches and has a swipe across the line. This is off-cutter and it grips in the surface. The ball flies off a top edge over the keeper for a four.

Will Willem Myburgh continue? The answer is no. JJ Smit replaces him. 1-0-3-0 so far for Smit.

Follows the batter, serves the arm ball angling into the leg side. Salman Agha fails to flick it away as the ball lobs up off his pads towards backward point. A leg bye taken.

Dragged back and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan moves back and swats it down to long on for one.

Pushed through quicker, shortish and on middle, skids through. Sahibzada Farhan shapes up for the pull but adjusts and clips it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Shorter in length once more, on off, Salman Agha punches it through cover-point for another run.

WIDE! Quicker and shorter but down the leg side, Salman Agha tries to swipe it away but misses. Called a wide.

Short again and around off, Sahibzada Farhan hangs back and slaps it to long off for a run.

Short and angling into leg, Salman Agha nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.

Sahibzada Farhan has asked for some medical attention. Did he tweak something in his right leg, or is it just cramps? The physio is applying the magic spray on Farhan's right knee. The magic spray has done its job and Sahibzada is ready to resume.

Oh..what happened there? Willem Myburgh fires this one full and outside off. Sahibzada Farhan tries to reach out but bunts it out off the bottom edge onto the pitch. He looks in a bit of discomfort and is holding his hamstring. 22 runs off the over, but Pakistan won't want to lose Farhan here.

SIX MORE! Even better and bigger! A googly, but too full and in the slot on middle. Sahibzada Farhan once again goes down on one knee and smokes it with the spin over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more.

SIX! This is turning out to be a great over for Pakistan! Willem Myburgh gives this one some more air, full and on off. Sahibzada Farhan goes down on one knee and nails the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for another biggie.

WIDE! Flatter, full but down the leg side, Sahibzada Farhan fails to glance it away. Wided.

Shorter delivery, on leg. Salman Agha moves back and punches it to long on for a single.

Floated, full and on middle, Salman Agha goes down and swipes it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs.

SIX! Top shot! Tossed up, full and on middle. Salman Agha skips down the track to get to the pitch of it. He presents the full face of the bat and lofts it with an extension of arms over the long on fence for a biggie.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan pushes it straight back to the bowler. A couple of quiet overs from the spinners.

Short again and on off, Salman Agha stays back and clips it through square leg for one.

Drops it short and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan has no room to work with and punches it to long on for a run.

Flatter delivery, full and on middle, angling in, Sahibzada Farhan knocks it to the right of the bowler.

Flighted, full and on off, Salman Agha tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up, full and on off, Salman Agha drives it wide of short cover, where the fielder dives to his right to make the stop.

Spin from both ends? Indeed. Here's the left-arm orthodox spinner, Bernard Scholtz.

Slower through the air, full and on middle and leg, turns away a bit. Sahibzada Farhan fends it back to the bowler.

Drags his length back, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan rocks back and pulls it wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Flighted, full and on off, Salman Agha goes down and sweeps it to deep square leg for another run. 50 up for Pakistan!

Goes short and on off, Sahibzada Farhan moves back and punches it to sweeper cover for a run.

Tossed up, full and on off, Sahibzada Farhan prods forward and blocks it out.

Floated, full but around leg, Salman Agha gets low and paddles it to short fine for a single.

Willem Myburgh comes into the attack. The leggie replaces Ruben Trumpelmann.

Good length and on off, Salman Agha opens the face of his bat and guides it to deep third for one more. Pakistan are 47/1 at the end of the Powerplay!

On a length and around leg, Sahibzada Farhan nudges it to deep square leg for one.

Falls short! Bangs this into the pitch, outside off. Salman Agha slashes hard at it. Gets a thick outside edge towards deep third, where Ruben Trumpelmann opts to save the boundary and not go for the catch. They cross.

FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Jack Brassell lands this short of a length and around off. Salman Agha manages to get on top of the bounce this time and punches it sweetly through covers for a boundary.

Almost chopped on! Back of a length and on off, takes off a bit. Salman Agha looks to cut it away but fails to ride the bounce. Gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls behind the stumps.

With the fall of Saim Ayub, the umpires have called for a DRINKS BREAK. Pakistan have got up to 40 with a few streaky boundaries along the way. Namibia haven't bowled badly at all, and on another day they might have had more than just the one wicket at this stage. Once again, the steep bounce at the SSC, something we have witnessed throughout the World Cup, has been on display, and Namibia will have to adjust to it when it is their turn to bat. Pakistan's skipper, Salman Agha walks out to bat.

OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Saim Ayub's luck finally runs out. Jack Brassell serves this full and outside off, keeping it away from the batter. Ayub, without any foot movement, just throws his bat at it. He only manages to get a thin outside edge behind, where Zane Green makes no mistake. It would have been a wide if he had left that ball. Another low score for Ayub in this World Cup, and Pakistan are 40/1 now.

Closer to the off stump, on a back of a length, Farhan stabs it down on the off side. 9 runs off Ruben Trumpelmann's second over. His figures read 2-0-20-0.

FOUR MORE! Width offered and Farhan cashes in. Bowled with a cross-seam, going across the right-hander, on a back of a length. Farhan takes a step across the stumps to get closer to the line of the ball and he carves it over cover for a four.

FOUR! Not convincing, but it gets the job done for Farhan. Fuller and at the sticks, Sahibzada has a massive hoick across the line. Gets it more off the inner half of the bat but past mid-wicket for a boundary.

Trumpelmann digs it in short, over off, Farhan swivels for the pull but is beaten for pace and the ball keeps rising. That looked to have sailed over the head of the batter but the umpire is happy with it.

A big swing and a miss! Trumpelmann cannot believe how the ball missed the stumps. A hint of shape back in, fuller and around the off pole. Farhan clears the front leg and swings with all his might. He is beaten on the inside edge and the ball misses the off pole by a coat of varnish.

On a good length, on middle, Ayub shovels it from the crease in front of deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Nothing streaky about this one! Jack bangs it in short but fails to get it high enough to trouble the batter. It comes just below the chest, around off. Farhan stays back and unleashes the pull over mid-wicket for a four.

Into the deck, on off, Sahibzada stands tall and pats it to cover.

FOUR! Streaky, but they all count! Cross-seam delivery, on a good length, outside off. Farhan clears the front leg and swings for the hills. The ball bounces a bit more to catch the top edge, and it flies behind. It goes through the vacant slip region for a four.

Fuller in length, on off and middle. Farhan pushes out in front of his body. The ball squirts off an outside edge to backward point.

Shaheen Afridi is running out to the middle with a new pair of gloves for Sahibzada Farhan.

Airmiles for both bat and ball! Brassell bashes the surface, around off. Farhan has a big swing at it to go over the top on the off side. He loses grip on the bat as it flies behind on the leg side. He manages to clear the in-field on off and collects a couple of runs.

Jack hits the hard length, on off. Sahibzada Farhan rides the bounce and stabs it down the strip.

Over off and middle, on a hard length. Sahibzada walks across the stumps and fends it beside the strip on the leg side for a single. 12 runs off Trumpelmann's first over.

Pushed across the right-hander, Farhan gets on top of it and punches it to cover-point.

Leg bye! Drifting in at the pads, on a back of a length, Ayub misses out on the glance. A leg bye is taken as the ball goes off the pads to short fine leg.

FOUR! Off the edge and just wide! Trumpelmann delivers it on a short of a good length, outside off. Ayub throws his hands at it. The ball flies behind off the outside edge. The keeper, Zane Green, flings himself to his left but is beaten for pace. He sticks out his left hand but to no avail.

Slanting in at the pads, on a good length, Ayub wrists it to the right of the man at deep square leg for a couple of runs.

FOUR! Nicely done! Trumpelmann tucks the batter up for room, on a back of a length, on middle. Ayub hangs deep in the crease and plays the short-arm jab by lifting his front leg. Hits it through the vacant mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Flat and short, across the batter, Farhan flat bats it hard but can't beat the man at mid on.

Beaten! Going across the right-hander, on the shorter side, Farhan has a flash at it but fails to connect.

Just out of reach! Short and around off, a bit of extra bounce. Ayub flays at it. Gets a thickish outside edge and the balloons towards backward point. Louren Steenkamp runs over his left shoulder, sticks out his left hand but the ball evades him. They cross.

Short and on middle, pulled through mid-wicket for a single.

Short and across off, Farhan taps it to cover.

FOUR! Gets it through! Erasmus begins from around the wicket, too full, too wide. Farhan gets low and reaches out to crack the drive towards the catching cover fielder. The fielder there fails to get low quickly and is beaten to his right. It races away for the first four of the contest.

Spin from the other end as Gerhard Erasmus brings himself into the attack.

A play and a miss! This decks away off the strip, on a short of a length, outside off. Saim stays leg side to knock it through the off side but the ball whistles past the outside edge.

On the fuller side, on middle, Saim brings his wrists into play and flicks it to the left of mid on. Gerhard Erasmus gives it a chase and slides to haul it. Ayub is off the mark with a couple of runs.

Smit keeps it in and around the off stump, on a back of a length, Ayub drops it in front of cover and wants to sneak in a single but the fielder is quick to get to the ball.

Leading edge! Angled into the left-hander, on a length, on middle. Saim gets on his toes to clip it away on the leg side, but the ball nips away to square the batter up. Gets a soft leading edge and it rolls to cover.

Honing in on the off stump, on a good length. Ayub covers the line and blocks it out with a straight bat.

Farhan and Pakistan are underway! On a back of a length, outside off, Sahibzada stands tall on his toes and punches it through covers for a single to open his account.

All in readiness now! The conditions are a bit overcast and we can see the Namibian players spread out and take up the fielding positions. Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub are the two openers for Pakistan. JJ Smit has the new ball in hand and is raring to go. Let's play...

We are moments away from the start of the game, but before that it is time for the unfurling of the flags of both nations. Now, Salman Agha and Gerhard Erasmus lead their respective teams out to the middle and line up for the national anthems. It will be Namibia's first followed by that of Pakistan.

PITCH REPORT - Former Sri Lankan batter, Russel Arnold, is pitchside. He informs that it was gloomy this morning, but the sun has broken through. Shares that the square boundaries measure 69 metres on one side and 67 on the other, with the straight hit being 79 metres. Former Pakistan fast bowler, Waqar Younis, believes Pakistan will feel at home in these conditions, having played a couple of games at this venue. Mentions that this pitch has offered something for everyone. Shares that at this ground, pacers have picked 31 wickets at an average of 18.96 while spinners have claimed 26 wickets at an average of 23.11.

We have not quite hit our straps - The captain of Namibia, Gerhard Erasmus, says that they really like the conditions here in Colombo and it is similar to what they have back home. Believes that they have not quite lived up to their reputation in T20 cricket. Feels that they are yet to put in the complete game, which you need against higher-ranked sides. Informs that they have made two changes for this game.

We need to bat well - The skipper of Pakistan, Salman Agha, says that it looks like a good wicket and they want to put runs on the board and put scoreboard pressure. Adds that they have been in must-win situations before in tournaments like this, and it is all about preparing well and delivering when it matters. Mentions that they are aware that batting hasn't been consistent, but they did well against the USA and need something similar here. Informs that they have made a couple of changes.

Namibia (Playing XI) - Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (C), Alexander Volschenk (In for Dylan Leicher), JJ Smit, Zane Green (WK), Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz and Jack Brassell (In for Max Heingo).

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (C), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (WK), Khawaja Nafay (In for Abrar Ahmed), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza (In for Shaheen Afridi) and Usman Tariq.

TOSS - All set for the coin to go up. Salman Agha and Gerhard Erasmus are present in the centre. 'Tails' is the call from Erasmus, but it has come down as a head. Pakistan opt to BAT first.

Weather watch - In Delhi, there were showers early in the morning, and rain caused a brief interruption during the break between innings. Showers are predicted ahead of the game here in Colombo as well. For now, though, conditions remain dry, and the players are out in the middle going through their warm-up drills.

An update from Delhi - South Africa are on course to make it four wins from four in the group stage. After opting to field first, they were tested in the first few overs, but from there on, the UAE struggled to break free. The Proteas quicks, in particular, proved too hot to handle, consistently hitting hard lengths and extracting enough pace to keep the batters in check. In the end, the UAE could only muster 122, and in reply, South Africa have raced to 86 in 9 overs for the loss of two wickets.

Adapting on the fly - That is the task in front of Namibia. All their previous games have been in India, and they now run into a Pakistan side that has been based in Colombo throughout the tournament and has already played twice at this ground. Pakistan's spinners, in particular, have relished conditions at the Sinhalese Sports Club, accounting for 13 of the 18 wickets they have taken across their two matches here. Navigating that spin challenge will be a stern test for the African side if they are to pull off an upset.

Greetings, all! 7 Super 8 spots have been sealed, and the race for the final berth is down to Pakistan and the USA. The Americans have completed their group stage fixtures and no longer control their own destiny. Pakistan, however, do. A win against Namibia today will see them through to the next round, while any slip-up from the Asian side will hand the final ticket to the USA, provided the Netherlands are not able to overtake them on net run rate.

... MATCH DAY ...

No room for error for the Men in Green - Under the Colombo skies, with the sea breeze drifting across the SSC Cricket Ground, this Group A clash feels less like a dead rubber and more like a final for Pakistan. After being hammered by India and watching the USA climb above them on net run rate, there is no safety net left - Pakistan have to win, if they want to keep their Super 8 hopes alive. Namibia, already out of the race, might be playing without pressure, but that only makes them more dangerous. Batting balance still elusive - Pakistan's campaign so far has been a story of missed chances and uneven performances. They were nearly stunned by the Netherlands before Faheem Ashraf's late cameo rescued them, steadied themselves against the USA, and then were completely outplayed by India. With the bat, the burden has fallen heavily on Sahibzada Farhan, who has 120 runs in the tournament, including a blazing 73 off 41 against the Americans. Around him, though, the returns have been thin. Babar Azam’s 66 runs have come at a strike rate under 116, not ideal in modern T20 cricket, while Saim Ayub, Salman Agha and Shadab Khan have all struggled to make telling contributions. Shadab and Usman Khan have flashed their power without truly shaping an innings, leaving Pakistan too often short of the explosives they crave. Spinners in search of spark - Ironically, it is Ayub who has been Pakistan's standout with the ball, leading their bowling charts and coming off a fine three-wicket haul in the last game. Usman Tariq's unusual action and deliberate pause have quietly brought control, but the bigger names - Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab have managed only eight wickets between them across three matches on spin-friendly surfaces. Salman Agha's surprise decision to bowl himself against India paid off instantly when he removed Abhishek Sharma, adding a useful extra option, but Shaheen Afridi's lack of early breakthroughs remains a concern. Whether Pakistan go all-in with spin again or bring back Salman Mirza's pace is one of the key selection calls. Bright starts, empty finishes - Namibia, despite three defeats, have shown enough to prove they belong at this level. Their biggest frustration has been with the bat. Only Louren Steenkamp has passed fifty, while Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Jan Frylinck have started brightly without kicking on. Skipper Gerhard Erasmus and JJ Smit have been forced to play rescue acts too often after middle-order collapses in big chases against India and the USA. Namibia's skipper setting the tone - Erasmus, however, has led superbly with the ball, taking six wickets, including a career-best 4 for 20 against India, while Myburgh has impressed with his economy. The pacers, Ruben Trumpelmann and Max Heingo, have not quite hit their straps, but Namibia will hope Colombo's slow, gripping surface levels the contest. Team Form (Last 5 T20Is, latest result first) - Pakistan - LWWWW | Namibia - LLLWL. A test of nerves in Colombo - These sides met once before at a T20 World Cup in 2021, with Pakistan coming out on top, and history alone will not be enough this time. Pakistan's advantage of having played all their games in Sri Lanka could be vital, especially against a Namibian side adjusting after a stint in India. One slip-up, though, and Pakistan risk a second straight group-stage exit - a thought that will be hanging heavily over them in Colombo.