Faheem Ashraf’s late surge seals tense T20 win for Pakistan

2️⃣9️⃣* off 1️⃣1️⃣ balls

Remarkable hitting from @iFaheemAshraf earns him player of the match award 💫#PAKvNED | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill | #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/WsY4cQldKs

Chasing 148, Pakistan reached 147 for seven in 19.3 overs, surviving a nervy finish after sustained pressure from the Netherlands during the middle phase of the chase.

Victory in the first game of the ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 ✨

Fireworks from @iFaheemAshraf sees Pakistan through 🏏#PAKvNED | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/fwdsen0r8R

Pakistan began confidently through openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan, who gave the chase early momentum. Ayub set the tone with a brisk 24 off 13 balls, hitting four fours and a six, before being dismissed by off-spinner Aryan Dutt.

Farhan then combined with captain Salman Ali Agha to keep the run rate under control, adding 50 runs by the fifth over. Dutt struck again to remove Agha for 12 off eight balls, leaving Pakistan 53 for two inside five overs.

Despite the wickets, Farhan remained calm at the crease, anchoring the innings as Babar Azam took time to settle.
Farhan eventually found fluency and moved within sight of a ninth T20I half-century, before being dismissed for 47 off 31 balls, an innings that included four fours and two sixes.

His wicket, taken by Roelof van der Merwe, reduced Pakistan to 98 for three, and the same bowler struck again moments later to remove Usman Khan for a second-ball duck.

Pakistan’s chase began to stall as another middle-order batter managed just 15 off 18 balls, allowing the Netherlands to build pressure. In the final five overs, wickets continued to fall, with Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan dismissed cheaply by Kyle Klein and Logan van Beek, leaving the outcome finely balanced.

With the required run rate climbing, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi kept their composure. Ashraf swung the momentum dramatically with a flurry of boundaries.

He smashed Van Beek for 22 in the 19th over to shift the moment in favour of Pakistan.

Faheem finished unbeaten on 29 off 11 balls, striking two fours and three sixes, as Pakistan sealed a memorable victory in the final over and underlined their resilience in Pakistan vs Netherlands T20 cricket.

Spin trap

Earlier, a collective bowling performance helped Pakistan restrict the Netherlands to 147.

Solid death overs bowling to cap off a strong finish for Pakistan! 💪

Netherlands lose their last six wickets for 20 runs as they are bundled out for 147 🎯#PAKvNED | #T20WorldCup | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/Q3E2v3bF7t

Openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd made a positive start, with Levitt particularly aggressive during the powerplay. Pakistan struck in the fourth over when Salman Mirza dismissed O’Dowd for five, with Usman Khan completing the catch.

Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz then removed Levitt for 24 off 15 balls, with a moment of brilliance in the field from Babar Azam, who relayed the ball to Saim Ayub near the boundary.

📸🪙©️

Pakistan are fielding first at SSC, Colombo 🏟️#PAKvNED | #T20WorldCup | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/4t7Dos9Y58

Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann steadied the innings, taking the Netherlands past 50 inside the powerplay, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Ackermann for 20 to leave the visitors 65 for three.

The Netherlands reached 100 in the 13th over, but Nawaz removed de Leede for 30, while Abrar struck again to dismiss captain Scott Edwards for a crucial 37.

🚨 TOSS & PLAYING XI 🚨

Pakistan win the toss and opt to bowl first against Netherlands 🏏

Our team for the first match of the ICC #T20WorldCup 2026 🇵🇰#PAKvNED | #BackTheBoysInGreen | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/4Y6mqLK2SY

Saim Ayub then claimed two wickets in an over, removing Logan van Beek and Zach Lion-Cachet, before Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Mirza wrapped up the innings.

Mirza finished with three for 24, while Nawaz, Abrar and Ayub took two wickets each.

Political leaders react as Pakistan begin campaign on a high

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on Pakistan’s victory over the Netherlands in the opening match of the T20 Cricket World Cup, hailing the team’s composed performance.

In a message shared by PTV News, the prime minister said the win reflected the players’ hard work and discipline, adding that such successes boost national morale and unity as the tournament progresses.

وزیرِ اعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی ٹی ٹوئنٹی کرکٹ ورلڈ کپ کے پہلے میچ میں پاکستان کی نیدرلینڈز کے خلاف میچ جیتنے پر قوم کو مبارکباد @CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/tfLLaAEDR9

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi struck a lighter, personal note in his reaction, applauding both teams while dedicating the match to twin babies featured in his post.

Congratulating the Netherlands for their effort, he described the moment as joyful and heartfelt, extending warm wishes for the children’s healthy and happy future, alongside celebrating the spirit of the game.

Well played, Netherlands! Today's game is dedicated to these adorable twin babies! Wishing them a healthy and happy life. pic.twitter.com/gOOlYduPRU