Farhan century and spin punch help Pak crush Namibia, enter Super 8s

To the list of lopsided matches in this T20 World Cup, add Pakistan's 102-run win against Namibia, their biggest in the men's competition, at Pallekele.

- Dhiman Sarkar

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan celebrates his century.

(AP)

After the capitulation against India, Pakistan needed to win this to stay alive and they did that by setting Namibia a target they have never achieved and then derailing the chase early. The smiles are back for the men in green and when the hurly-burly was done, television cameras caught Sahibzada Farhan obliging selfie requests.With an unbeaten 100, his first in a T20 World Cup and Pakistan's first since 2014, Farhan helped set up the win. Farhan faced the first and last balls of the innings and 56 in between in which he hit Il fours and four sixes. A push to cover helped Pakistan open their account and Farhan let the last ball I go expecting it to be called a wide which it was not.

Using the depth of the crease playing flat-bat shots, some of them were like down-the-line forehands, slog-sweeps and some delectable drives, Farhan took Pakistan to 199/3 before their spinners strangled Namibia by taking eight wickets.