Pakistan vs Namibia T20 World Cup 2021 Highlights: Pakistan cruise to 45-run victory; qualify for semi-finals

Wiese has once again been key to Namibia in this game, even as the side has failed to go past the winning mark. After being the most economical bowler (1/30 in four overs), Wiese is currently on 29, as Namibia attempt to minimise the losing margin.

One over remaining. Namibia 128/5. Target: 190

JJ Smit is taken aback as Haris Rauf takes away the pace, deceiving the batter with a slower one. Smit, who had already committed to the shot, fails to adjust as the ball goes sailing in the air.

It doesn't find the distance and Fakhar Zaman takes an easy catch on mid-on.

Namibia 111/5 in 17 overs. Target: 190

The Pakistan supporters are roaring at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as the side is cruising to a semi-final spot in the 2021 T20 World Cup. Only four overs away from the final-four!

Williams now departs. In a bid to up the ante, the batter had no choice but to go for the big hits.

Shadab finally get a breakthrough!

Namibia 101/4 in 15 overs. Target: 190

Shaheen dropped Erasmus in the previous over, but Shadab Khan makes no mistake as he takes an easy catch at cover to send the Namibian captain back. Imad Wasim takes his first wicket.

Namibia 84/3 in 13 overs. Target: 190

Erasmus charges down the track but mistimes a length delivery. He goes straight over bowler's head and almost instantly realises that he will be caught. However, Shaheen drops the catch near the long-off boundary.

Namibia 78/2 in 12 overs

An excellent over from Haris Rauf straight after the drinks break. Craig Williams all at sea against Rauf's seething pace, as he fails to connect four of the six deliveries in the over. While one got a bottom edge and was deviated to Williams' stumps, the batter finally found a connection on the last ball for a single towards cover.

Namibia 71/2 in 11 overs

A couple of boundaries from Gerhard Erasmus as Namibia breach the 7 rpo rate at the halfway mark of the innings. Pakistan were 69/0 at the same stage, but Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan steered a tremendous recovery, with a special cameo from Mohammad Hafeez as well.

Can Namibia repeat the same and pull out an upset?

Stephen Baard is run-out on a run-a-ball 29. A lack of communication between the two batters. Craig Williams screamed his lungs out towards Baard to go back to his crease, but the batter seemed to be in his own zone as he turned to return for a second.

Namibia 55/2 in 8.4 overs 

Namibia bring their 50 in the 9th over of the innings. Craig Williams slams a six off Mohammad Hafeez to take the side past 50.

End of Powerplay. Craig Williams and Stephen Baard need to up the ante and take risks to keep Namibia on course in this game.

Both Shaheen Afridi and Hasan Ali beat the Namibia batters on multiple occasions in their first-two overs respectively. 

23/1 in 4 overs; Target: 190

Ali draws first blood as he castles Michael van Lingen on 4. 

The opener had hit the four off his first delivery against Shaheen towards square leg, and attempts to loft it over the same area against Hasan. However, he completely misses the line.

Namibia 8/1 in 1.3 overs

Namibia stare at a big target here, and they will have to get past Pakistan's fiery pace trio – Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hasan Ali. 

What a finish from Mohammad Rizwan, as he accumulates 24 runs from the last over of the innings! In merely six deliveries, Rizwan covers up for his slow start. 

JJ Smit remains completely off his line and lengths. He went full on his first delivery as Rizwan hammers it straight for a four, then bowls a full toss for a six. He pitches it short on the third ball as Rizwan scoops it towards third man. Smit pulls back his length a little but bowls wide-outside off on fourth and fifth deliveries respectively, as Rizwan cuts them past point for successive fours. A two to end the innings as Rizwan goes through cover.

Pakistan finish on 189/2 in 20 overs! 

A second half-century for the opener in this edition, and what a way to bring it. He slaps a full-toss delivery from Wiese behind square. A relatively slower knock from Rizwan, as the fifty comes in 42 deliveries.

Pakistan 165/2 in 19 overs

Mohammad Hafeez hasn't taken much time to settle. The ‘Professor’ is only dealing in boundaries, it seems. Hafeez has slammed five fours in his first 10 deliveries, steering Pakistan to a strong finish.

Pakistan 150/2 in 17.4 overs

That's an absolute stunner from wicketkeeper Zane Green. Fakhar Zaman's inconsistent run continues as he departs on 5. 

The ball came into the left-hander and Zaman, who had already stepped out, failed to adjust in time for the length delivery. Green was also chasing the ball but the outside-edge forced him to change directions. He gets to the ball just in time, extending his left arm to pull out a great catch.

Pakistan 127/2 in 16 overs

He scores a brilliant 70. Slower delivery from David Wiese outside-off, and Babar Azam attempts to pull it with enormous power. He couldn't find the distance, however. An easy catch at deep midwicket for Jan Frylinck.

Pakistan 118/1 in 15 overs

It took him time, but Rizwan is finally finding his groove. He ended the 12th over with a four and now steps out against Loftie-Eaton to slam a fullish delivery for a towering six over long-on. 

The over also brings Pakistan's 100.

Pakistan 100/0 in 13 overs. 

A well-crafted half-century from Babar Azam, who has reached his fifty in 39 deliveries! He has been leading Pakistan's charge since the beginning of the innings, as Mohammad Rizwan has struggled to connect throughout his time on the crease so far.

Pakistan 89/0 in 11.3 overs

It has been a slow start for Pakistan, however. The side reaches the 50-run mark at the end of the 9th over of the innings.

Babar Azam has scored 37 off those, while Rizwan is reeling at 14 off 23 deliveries.

Pakistan 50/0 in 9 overs

The big shots may be yet to arrive, but both openers have indulged in healthy strike-rotation over the past two overs, accumulating 16 runs. Babar Azam, in particular, has looked in fine touch. 

Time to shift gears.

Pakistan 45/0 in 8 overs

It has been a tight start from Namibia, who have kept both Pakistan openers fairly quiet in the starting overs. The bowlers have conceded at a run-rate for only 4.83. 

GOOD REVIEW by Pakistan. It had pitched outside the leg stump but only marginally. Rizwan survives. It was a good fuller length delivery by Smit, Rizwan went across the line but missed it. It it him in front and the umpire raised his finger but Pakistan opener was quick to use the review and replays showed the ball pitched just a tad outside the leg stump.