Pakistan grabs Super 8 spot at T20 World Cup. India and South Africa maintain 100 percent records

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sahibzada Farhan smashed his first century in the format and Usman Tariq confused Namibia with mystery spin as Pakistan secured a Super 8 spot at cricket's Twenty20 World Cup with a 102-run win on Wednesday.

Elsewhere, defending champion India beat the Netherlands by 17 runs to finish unbeaten in Group A, while South Africa chased down a victory target of 123 with 40 balls to spare against the United Arab Emirates to remain undefeated in Group D.

In Colombo, Pakistan opening batter Farhan made 100 not out off 58 balls with four sixes and 11 boundaries. Captain Salman Ali Agha hit 38 while Farhan and Shadab Khan (36 not out) carried Pakistan to 199-3 against Namibia in Group A.

Tariq, who has a distinctive pause-and-bowl action, then grabbed 4-16 and Khan took 3-19 as Namibia was dismissed for 97 in 17.3 overs, its fourth straight loss in the group.

Pakistan needed a win at Sinhalese Sports Club to end any hope for the United States and Farhan’s blazing century provided the 2009 champion with a strong total.

Farhan's second fifty came off just 20 balls. Khan provided a late flurry, smashing three sixes.

Namibia opener Louren Steenkamp top-scored in the chase with a 22-ball 23 and Alexander Busing-Volschenk (20) was the other batter to reach double figures as Pakistan's spinners struck at regular intervals.

Tariq bowled a double-wicket maiden over and baffled the middle order with his sharp googlies and carrom balls as Namibia lost six wickets for just 18 runs after collapsing from 79-4.

In Ahmedabad, Shivam Dube hit 66 off 31 balls to help India recover from 69-3 to reach 193-6 before the Netherlands replied with 176-7.

India, which had already qualified for the Super 8s, stretched its winning record to 12 games in T20 World Cups since 2024.

Abhishek Sharma fell for a third straight duck in the competition, bowled by Aryan Dutt in the first over.

Dutt also accounted for the in-form Ishan Kishan (18).

Tilak Varma (31) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav then added 30 off 28 balls. Yadav was dropped on 13 and went on to score 34.

The acceleration came with Dube’s arrival at the crease. He hit six sixes, using the slower pace of the Dutch bowlers to his advantage, and raced to 50 off 25 balls.

Hardik Pandya scored 30 off 21 deliveries as the pair added 76 off 35 balls.

The Netherlands was never likely to reach its target. Bas de Leede made 33 and opener Michael Levitt hit 24.

Mystery leg-spinner Varun Chakravarthy picked up 3-14 in three overs while Dube starred with the ball as well, taking 2-35 in three overs.

In Delhi, South Africa restricted the UAE to 122-6 with Corbin Bosch returning 3-12 from four overs and fellow paceman Anrich Nortje claiming 2-28.

The South Africans raced to 123-4 in 13.2 overs, taking the last seven runs in singles after their fourth wicket fell.

Rain showers delayed the start of South Africa’s reply and then the first over netted just one run.

But the Proteas powered toward victory by adding 13 runs off the second over and 18 from the third until Haider Ali bowled skipper Aiden Markram for 28 from 11 balls.

Dewald Brevis made 36 before he was out within two scoring shots of victory, and Ryan Rickelton hit 30 as the 2024 runner-up dominated the bowling.

For the UAE, Alishan Sharafu compiled 45 from 38 deliveries before he was caught in the outfield off Nortje’s bowling in the 18th over.

It was South Africa’s fourth consecutive win in the tournament, including a double-tiebreaker victory over 2024 semifinalist Afghanistan that required two Super Overs.

The Proteas finished top of the “group of death” – which also saw New Zealand qualify – and will take on India, West Indies and Zimbabwe in Group 1 of the Super 8s.

New Zealand, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are in Group 2.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's Usman Tariq, right , celebrates with captain Salman Ali Agha, centre, the wicket of Namibia's Ruben Trumpelmann during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan celebrates his century during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Namibia and Pakistan in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

United Arab Emirates' Haider Ali, centre, celebrates the wicket of during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton celebrate during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

United Arab Emirates' Muhammad Arfan reacts after bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Dewald Brevis hits a six during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's Ryan Rickelton and South Africa's Dewald Brevis celebrate during the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa's David Miller, left, and United Arab Emirates' captain Muhammad Waseem walk into the field before the start of their T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

South Africa team sing their national anthem at the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between South Africa and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A New Jersey Catholic diocese this week agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, a figure far exceeding agreements in some large dioceses but still dwarfed by other massive settlements.

Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden, covering southern New Jersey and its Philadelphia suburbs, announced the settlement Tuesday in a letter.

“For the survivors of South Jersey, this day is long overdue and represents a milestone in their journey toward restored justice and the healing and recognition they have long sought and deserve,” Williams said.

Mark Crawford, state director of the Survivors Network for those Abused by Priests, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the settlement was long overdue but he was glad the ordeal was coming to an end. He praised the bishop for listening to survivors and for pledging transparency, contrasting him with his predecessor, who fought a legal battle over a state investigation into alleged clergy abuse.

"This settlement and this bishop have acted very differently," Crawford said. “I hope it sends a message that this is possible, that this is right.”

Greg Gianforcaro, one of the attorneys representing victims suing the diocese, credited survivors' persistence in reaching the agreement. The diocese has said there about 300 survivors of abuse raising claims.

“It’s been an extremely long and arduous battle,” he said in a phone interview.

It's the latest agreement in a scandal set off more than two decades ago when the scale of the abuse and the church's effort to hide it came to light in Boston. The New Jersey settlement agreement is more than the roughly $80 million settlements in Boston and Philadelphia, though settlements in California ranged much higher. In 2024, the Los Angeles Archdiocese agreed to an $880 million payment.

The Camden settlement comes less than a year after the diocese withdrew its objection to the state of New Jersey's grand jury investigation into decades of alleged sexual abuse of children by religious. The state Supreme Court has since ruled the state's investigation could move ahead.

The Camden diocese, like others nationwide, filed for bankruptcy amid a torrent of lawsuits after the statute of limitations was relaxed.

In 2022, the diocese agreed to pay $87.5 million to settle allegations involving clergy sex abuse against some 300 accusers, one of the largest cash settlements involving the Catholic church in the U.S. The latest settlement announcement includes these funds, according to victims' attorneys.

The diocese of Camden covers six southern New Jersey counties outside Philadelphia. The agreement must still be approved by a bankruptcy court.

FILE - The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is seen in Camden, N.J., April 20, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)