T20 World Cup: Pakistan cement semi-finals spot after Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam star in 45-run win over Namibia

Skipper Babar Azam scored 70 whereas his opening accomplice Mohammed Rizwan smashed an unbeaten 79 as Pakistan defeated Namibia by 45 runs in a Super 12 sport of the ICC T20 World Cup in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

While Babar hit seven fours in his 48-ball knock, Rizwan clobbered eight fours and 4 maximums in 50 balls. With the win, the Pakistan facet cemented their place within the semi-finals.Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan produced yet one more century-plus opening stand as Pakistan exploded within the again finish to put up 189 for two towards Namibia.In reply, Namibia may solely handle to attain 144 for five runs in 20 overs. Namibia’s batters confirmed nice grit towards a formidable bowling line-up of Pakistan.For Namibia, Criag Williams (40 off 37b; 5×4, 1×6), Stephan Baard (29 off 29b; 1×4, 1×6), and David Wiese (43 off 31b; 3×4, 2×6) had been the notable run getters.For Pakistan, Hasan Ali (1/22), Imad Wasim (1/13), Shadab Khan (1/35), and Haris Rauf (1/25) chipped in with a wicket apiece.Earlier, captain Babar led from the entrance with an aesthetic 49-ball 70 as he took the early initiative, whilst Rizwan struggled to get going at first.But the Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter, who noticed an LBW determination overturned whereas he was on two from 11 balls, turned it round in type to smash an unbeaten 79 from 59 balls. His knock was studded with eight fours and 4 sixes, whereas Babar discovered the fence seven instances.Struggling to search out time, Rizwan took cost towards Namibia’s greatest bowler, Ruben Trumpelmann, stepping out to hit him over long-on. After that, there was no trying again from him.From being 59 for no loss on the midway mark, the Babar-Rizwan duo toyed with the Namibian assault, placing on a 113-run opening stand — the primary pair to take action 5 instances in T20 Internationals.Babar and Rizwan additionally grew to become the primary pair to mixture 1000 T20I runs in a calendar yr as Pakistan accelerated in type.Mohammad Hafeez additionally returned to type with a sensational cameo of 32 not out from 16 balls (5×4) as Pakistan scored 71 runs from the final 5 overs.