The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 moved into a high-stakes gear on February 18, as Pakistan squared off against Namibia in the 35th Match of the tournament. Set under the shimmering lights of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, this Group A encounter was billed as a mandatory win for the Men in Green to solidify their standing. After a record-breaking century by Sahibzada Farhan propelled Pakistan to a daunting 199/3, all eyes turned to the bowling attack to clinicalize the defense. While the target of 200 was always going to be a mountain for the African nation, it was a moment of sheer fast-bowling artistry from Salman Mirza that effectively broke the spirit of the Namibian chase.
Salman Mirza castles Jan Frylinck with a beauty in T20 World Cup 2026 crucial encounter
The highlight of the evening arrived in the fifth over of the second innings. Namibia had managed a steady, if unspectacular, start, but Mirza was finding significant rhythm from the Pavilion End. On the first ball of the 5th over.
Facing the left-handed Jan Frylinck, Mirza steamed in from over the wicket, delivering a searing cross-seamer that angled sharply into the batter. Frylinck, sensing the need to increase the scoring rate, attempted to make room toward the leg side to carve the ball through the off-side. However, the sheer pace and inward tilt of the delivery caught him completely off guard.
The ball followed Frylinck, sliding past his swinging blade and splattering the middle and leg stumps in a spectacular display of pace bowling. Frylinck was left searching for answers, departing for a struggling 9 off 11 balls. The visual of the woodwork flying provided the perfect “Watch” moment for fans globally, signalling Mirza’s emergence as a strike weapon in the absence of traditional senior names.
Here’s the video:
Namibia falters early in chase under Pakistan’s powerplay pressure
The dismissal of Frylinck was the catalyst for a total collapse in Namibia’s top-order composure. Chasing a mammoth Required Run Rate of 10, the Namibian openers found the Colombo surface far more treacherous than the Pakistani batters did. Faheem Ashraf set the tone with a disciplined opening spell, conceding only 16 runs in his first two overs, which forced Namibia into risky maneuvers.
By the end of the Powerplay (6 overs), Namibia was reeling at 39/2. The situation worsened just moments after Mirza’s breakthrough when a catastrophic mix-up led to the run-out of Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton. A sharp piece of fielding by the captain, Salman Agha, paired with a quick return to Saim Ayub, caught Loftie-Eaton short of his crease for just 5 runs.
With the scoreboard pressure mounting and the surface beginning to offer more grip for the spinners, Namibia require a miracle. They currently need 160 runs from just 84 balls, a task that looks nearly impossible against a Pakistani side that has found its clinical edge at exactly the right time in the World Cup.
Also WATCH: Sahibzada Farhan’s bat slips and goes airborne in bizarre on-field moment during PAK vs NAM clash
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