Pakistan sealed their Super 8 spot with a 102-run thrashing of Namibia in Colombo on Wednesday, with Sahibzada Farhan hitting his first T20 international century and spinner Usman Tariq taking 4-16.
Likewise, defending champions, India, beat the Netherlands by 17 runs in Ahmedabad, extending their unbeaten T20 World Cup run to 12 games since 2024 — while South Africa crushed the UAE by six wickets in New Delhi with 40 balls to spare to finish the group stage without a defeat.
Eight teams now advance to the Super 8s, where India face South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe in Group 1, and Pakistan join New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka in Group 2.
Pakistan Cruise Past Namibia to Seal Qualification
Sahibzada Farhan’s first T20 international century carried Pakistan to a 102-run win over Namibia at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Wednesday, ending any lingering hope the United States had of advancing from Group A. The 2009 champions are through to the Super 8s.
Farhan made 100 not out off 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes. His second fifty came off 20 balls. Captain Salman Ali Agha added 38, and Shadab Khan smashed three sixes in a 36 not out cameo as Pakistan posted 199-3.
Namibia’s reply fell apart quickly. They slipped from 79-4 to be bowled out for 97 in 17.3 overs — their fourth loss in as many group games. Usman Tariq, whose distinctive pause-and-bowl action proved too much for Namibia’s middle order, took 4-16, including a double-wicket maiden. His googlies and carrom balls were largely unplayable. Khan supported with 3-19. Opener Louren Steenkamp top-scored with 23 off 22 balls while Alexander Busing-Volschenk made 20 — the only two batters to reach double figures.
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Dube Rescues India in Comfortable Win Over Netherlands
Defending champions India beat the Netherlands by 17 runs in Ahmedabad to finish the group stage with a 12-match unbeaten run in T20 World Cups dating back to 2024. They had already secured qualification after beating Pakistan in their previous group match.
India found themselves in early trouble at 69-3, with Abhishek Sharma out for a third straight duck, bowled by Aryan Dutt in the first over. Shivam Dube steadied the innings and then accelerated hard, scoring 66 off 31 balls, his highest T20I score, hitting six sixes and exploiting the Dutch bowlers’ slower pace throughout. Hardik Pandya hit 30 off 21 balls, the pair adding 76 off 35 deliveries to push India to 193-6.
The Netherlands were never seriously in the chase. Bas de Leede top-scored with 33, and Zach Lion-Cachet made 26, but wickets fell at regular intervals. Varun Chakravarthy was the standout bowler with 3-14 from three overs, while Dube completed an all-round performance with 2-35.
South Africa Finish Unbeaten After Ruthless Chase Against UAE
South Africa wrapped up the group stage without a defeat, beating the UAE by six wickets in New Delhi with 40 balls to spare. It was their fourth straight win of the tournament, a run that also included a double Super Over win over Afghanistan.
The Proteas restricted the UAE to 122-6, with Corbin Bosch taking 3-12 from four overs and Anrich Nortje claiming 2-28. Alishan Sharafu top-scored for the UAE with 45 off 38 balls before being caught off Nortje in the 18th over.
A rain delay held up South Africa’s reply, and the first over yielded just one run. They quickly made up for lost time — 13 runs came in the second over and 18 in the third before skipper Aiden Markram was bowled by Haider Ali for 28 off 11 balls. Dewald Brevis made 36, and Ryan Rickelton hit 30 as the 2024 runners-up cruised home. New Zealand also qualified from Group D alongside the Proteas.
Scorecards and Super 8 Line-Up
| Match | Team | Score | Top Scorers | Result |
| Pakistan vs Namibia, Colombo | Pakistan | 199-3 (20 overs) | Farhan 100*, Agha 38, Khan 36* | Pakistan won by 102 runs |
| Namibia | 97 all out (17.3 overs) | Steenkamp 23, Busing-Volschenk 20 | ||
| India vs Netherlands, Ahmedabad | India | 193-6 (20 overs) | Dube 66, Pandya 30 | India won by 17 runs |
| Netherlands | 176-7 (20 overs) | de Leede 33, Levitt 24 | ||
| South Africa vs UAE, New Delhi | UAE | 122-6 (20 overs) | Sharafu 45 | South Africa won by 6 wickets |
| South Africa | 123-4 (13.2 overs) | Brevis 36, Rickelton 30 |
Super 8 Groups
| Group 1 | Group 2 |
| India | New Zealand |
| South Africa | England |
| West Indies | Pakistan |
| Zimbabwe | Sri Lanka |
What Next: The Super 8 Stage Takes Shape
The group stage is done. Twelve teams are out while eight remain. The Super 8s is set to kick off on February 21 with New Zealand taking on Pakistan in Colombo. Next, India is to face South Africa in a rematch of the 2024 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22. The round concludes on March 1 with Zimbabwe vs South Africa and India vs West Indies.
Group 1 pits defending champions India against South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe. The two heavyweights are on a collision course — India unbeaten across 12 World Cup games since 2024, South Africa unbeaten in this tournament and still chasing their first global title after finishing runners-up in 2024.
Group 2 throws together Pakistan, New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka — four sides with genuine knockout pedigree and no clear favourite. Pakistan arrived with momentum after Farhan’s century, and Tariq’s spin proved a potent combination. Sri Lanka come in having lost key death bowler Matheesha Pathirana to injury, with Dilshan Madushanka stepping in as a replacement.
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