ABU DHABI : Pakistan could become the first team to guarantee qualification for the semi-finals at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 with victory over Namibia.
Pakistan racked up 189-2 after Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bat first against Namibia in the Group 2 clash in Abu Dhabi.
Azam’s decision went against the tournament trend, with teams preferring to chase throughout the World Cup so far.
Read More
- Oman book World Cup spot in tent pegging after home qualifiers
- Oman’s cricket dream takes flight to Asian Games
- Edinburgh Castle Rockers crowned inaugural ETPL champions
- Manchester City edge Sunderland 5-3 in eight-goal thriller to go top of Premier League standings
- Indian goalie Savita Punia becomes country’s most-capped women’s hockey player
But Pakistan defied the norms to build a formidable target as they went in search of a fourth straight win at the World Cup to become the first team into the semi-finals.
Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 70 off 49 balls, with his opening partner and captain Azam continuing their brilliant partnership with a 70 off his own.
Mohammad Hafeez added polish to the innings with a sparkling 32 off just 16 late on, with Pakistan scoring an eye-watering 130 runs in the last ten overs.
The tactic in the Powerplay was clear from Pakistan, who looked to see off dangerman Ruben Trumpelmann and bide their time before accelerating later in the innings.
Trumpelmann’s two overs first up went for just two runs, with Rizwan particularly conservative, scoring at a strike rate below 50 through the fielding restrictions, reaching just 29-0 after six overs.
But the Pakistani pair made hay after their steady start, pushing through the gears through the middle overs.
And the return of Trumpelmann in the 12th over was the perfect illustration of the change of mindset, with 18 coming off it and Azam reaching his 23rd T20I half-century off 40 balls.
The inspired Azam did eventually fall for 70, holing out to deep midwicket off David Wiese.
And Fakhar Zaman was dismissed in the next over, caught superbly by Zane Green off Jan Frylinck.
Just when it looked like the Pakistan innings might be stalling, out came Hafeez to take advantage of the platform laid by the opening pair.
The veteran’s surgical stroke-play saw him find the boundary five times in his sparkling 32.
But it was Rizwan who finished the innings in style, hitting 24 off the final over as he carried his bat through the innings and finished with 79* off 50.
Victory for Pakistan would make them the first team to confirm qualification for the semi-finals, and their powerful bowling attack will fancy their chances of defending 189.
More to follow
