Pakistan beat Netherlands by three wickets, however with solely three balls to spare, in opening 2026 T20 World Cup fixture.
Printed On 7 Feb 2026
The Netherlands almost pulled off a significant upset earlier than Faheem Ashraf’s breezy cameo secured a nervy three-wicket win for Pakistan of their Group A match on the Twenty20 World Cup.
Put in to bat on Saturday, the Dutch facet have been bowled out for 147 with one supply left of their innings in Colombo’s Sinhalese Sports activities Membership floor.
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They then produced a lion-hearted effort with the ball, however dropping Faheem proved expensive because the batter went on to smash 29 not out off 11 balls to safe Pakistan’s victory with three balls to spare.
Pakistan have been left with little margin for error of their bid to qualify for the Tremendous 8 stage of the event following their resolution to boycott their February 15 group match towards archrivals India.
The significance of profitable their group matches towards the minnows didn’t seem like misplaced on them as Pakistan bowled out the Netherlands with a ball to spare.
They made heavy climate of their small goal with the bat, although, and the result may have been completely different had Max O’Dowd held onto the catch supplied by Faheem. Earlier, put in to bat, the Dutch facet reached 100 within the thirteenth over however misplaced the plot within the dying overs, giving up six wickets in 24 balls for simply 20 runs.
The Netherlands misplaced openers Max O’Dowd and Michael Levitt in successive overs however their center order refused to throw within the towel.
Bas de Leede (30), Colin Ackermann (20) and captain Scott Edwards (37) made helpful contributions earlier than the wheels got here off their innings.
Spinner Saim Ayub claimed two wickets within the seventeenth over and Mirza struck twice within the twentieth to limit the Netherlands to a below-par complete. Ayub (24) returned to hit 4 fours and a six when Pakistan started their chase however Dutch spinner Aryan Dutta dismissed him and Salman Agha in successive overs to maintain his group within the sport.
Babar Azam’s strike price on this format has typically been debated, and his departure after an 18-ball 15 would do little to persuade his critics.
With Pakistan reeling on 119-7 after 18 overs, Faheem hit Logan van Beek for a six and skied the following ball, which O’Dowd floored at long-off, which allowed the batter to go on and seal Pakistan’s victory with a 4.
