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T20 World Cup: Rizwan and Babar fire again as Pakistan sweep past Namibia to reach semi-finals
Written by Sports Desk. Posted in Cricket. | 02 November 2021 | 810 Views
Tags: Cricket, Babar Azam, Icc World Twenty20, Namibia, Pakistan, T20, T20 Series

Pakistan made it four wins from four to progress to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup as they eased to a 45-run victory against Namibia in Abu Dhabi.

A 113-run opening stand between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, their second century partnership of the tournament, laid the foundations for a fourth Super 12 win out of four.

It took Namibia until the 15th over to take their first wicket, with Pakistan captain Babar falling to the bowling of David Wiese for 70 from 49 balls, a third half-century in his four innings.

Rizwan blasted 79 from 50 balls, taking a fierce 24 runs off the final over.  Rizwan's knock paired with a rapid unbeaten 32 from 16 balls from Mohammad Hafeez led Pakistan to 189-2.

Namibia's chase never got going, with Michael van Lingen falling in the second over for just four as Hasan Ali clattered his stumps.

Fellow opener Stephan Baard was able to hit 29 at a run a ball before being run out, while skipper Gerhard Erasmus could only make 15 before he was caught by Shadab Khan.

Craig Williams (40) and Wiese (43 not out) showed some resistance, but the result was never in doubt as the impressive Group 2 leaders advanced to the last four.


Rizwan and Babar on fire

There are numerous ways to win a T20 match but having two openers who can lay such a strong platform always helps.

Rizwan and Babar set the tournament alight with their performance against India in the opening game, and were imperious once again as they dismantled the Namibian attack at the Zayed Cricket Stadium.

The duo now sit second and third in the rankings for most runs scored in the competition on 199 and 198 respectively. Only England's Jos Buttler (214) has more.

A day to forget for Smit

JJ Smit was the unfortunate victim of Rizwan's final-over assault, seeing the first five deliveries smacked to the rope as 24 runs were added from the last six balls.

Smit, who is ranked joint-third in the ICC men's T20i world rankings for all-rounders, ended with figures of 0-50 from his four overs.

He did not fair any better with the bat either, scoring just two from five balls before being caught by Fakhar Zaman off the bowling of Haris Rauf.