ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Went into a high-risk gear on February 18th Pakistan competed against namibia In the 35th match of the tournament. Held under the flashing lights of the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, this Group A encounter was seen as a must-win for the Men in Green to consolidate their position. After the record breaking century Sahebzada Farhan Taking Pakistan to a challenging score of 199/3, all eyes were on the bowling attack to sweep the defence. While the target of 200 was always going to be a mountain to climb for the African nation, this was a moment of fast bowling artistry salman mirza This effectively broke the spirit of the Namibian chase.
Salman Mirza beats John Frylink beautifully in the important match of T20 World Cup 2026
The highlight of the evening came in the fifth over of the second innings. Namibia had made a steady, if unpredictable, start, but Mirza was finding vital rhythm from the pavilion end. On the first ball of the 5th over.
left hand facing Jan FrylinkMirza bowled a powerful cross-seamer over the wicket, which quickly went into the batsman. Frylinck, realizing the need to increase the scoring rate, attempted to create space down the leg side to cross the ball through the off side. However, the rapid pace of the delivery and the inward swing took him completely by surprise.
The ball went past Frylink, slipping off his swinging blade and shattering onto middle and leg stump in a brilliant display of fast bowling. Frylink was left searching for answers and produced a struggling performance, scoring 9 runs from 11 balls. The scene of the flight out of the woodwork provided the perfect “must see” moment for fans globally, signaling Mirza’s emergence as a strike weapon in the absence of traditional senior names.
Here is the video:
Namibia faltered early in the chase due to pressure from Pakistan’s powerplay.
Frylink’s dismissal was the catalyst for the collapse of Namibia’s top order. Chasing a huge required run rate of 10, the Namibian openers found the Colombo surface far more dangerous than the Pakistani batsmen. Faheem Ashraf Concluding just 16 runs from his first two overs, he set the tone with a disciplined opening spell that forced Namibia into risky manoeuvres.
At the end of the powerplay (6 overs), Namibia’s score was 39/2. The situation worsened moments after Mirza’s success when John Nicol Lofty-Eaton was run out following a catastrophic mix-up. A sharp example of fielding by the captain, salman aghaPaired with quick refund Saim AyyubLofty-Eaton was caught just 5 runs before his crease.
With pressure on the scoreboard mounting and the surface beginning to provide more grip for the spinners, Namibia needed a miracle. They currently need 160 runs off just 84 balls, a task that looks almost impossible against a Pakistani team that has found its groove at exactly the right time in the World Cup.
