T20 World Cup: Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam Guide Pakistan To Semifinals With Namibia Scalp

T20 World Cup, PAK vs NAM: Excellent batting displays by Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam helped Pakistan defeat Namibia by 45 runs on Tuesday in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan became the first team to reach the Twenty20 World Cup semifinals after beating Namibia by 45 runs, with brilliant half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and skipper Babar Azam in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Rizwan finished with a slow-to-fast 50-ball 79 not out while Babar notched his 23rd Twenty20 international fifty with a 49-ball 70 to lift Pakistan -- who won the toss and batted -- to 189-2 in their 20 overs. Namibia tried their best to match their opponents with David Wiese notching 43 not out and Craig Williams scoring 40 but Pakistani bowlers never allowed them a free hand as they managed 144-5 in 20 overs.

With four wins in as many games, Pakistan became the first side to reach the last four from Group 2. This will be their fifth semi-final in Twenty20 World Cup history -- the most by any team.

Williams knocked five boundaries and a six before he holed out to spinner Shadab Khan while Wiese smashed two sixes and three boundaries in his 31-ball knock.

Opener Stephan Baard scored 29.

But Rizwan and Babar were the stars once again, like they were in Pakistan's win over arch-rivals India, which gave them a kick-start to the event.