Pakistan Escapes Defeat Against Netherlands in T20 World Cup Opener; Faheem Ashraf Stars in Thrilling Finish

Colombo: Pakistan narrowly avoided defeat against the Netherlands in their T20 World Cup 2026 opener, pulling off a sensational three-wicket victory thanks to a blistering cameo by lower-order batsman Faheem Ashraf. The match swung dramatically in the final overs, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

Ashraf’s Heroics Rescue Pakistan
Chasing a target of 148, Pakistan looked solid at 90/2 after ten overs. However, a middle-order collapse soon put them in deep trouble. By the 16.1 over, Pakistan was reeling at 114/7, needing 34 more runs to win. With 29 required from the last two overs, Ashraf unleashed an extraordinary assault, hitting three towering sixes and a boundary off Logan van Beek in the 19th over. A previously dropped catch off Ashraf in that over proved costly for the Netherlands, allowing him to turn the match in Pakistan’s favor.

Top-Order Failures and Mid-Innings Collapse
Pakistan’s top-order struggled under pressure. Sahibzada Farhan scored a team-high 47 off 31 balls, while opener Saeem Ayub contributed 24 off 13 balls. Star batter Babar Azam managed just 15 runs from 18 balls. Kyle Klein removed Mohammad Nawaz in the 16th over, while Shadab Khan’s wicket in the final four overs added to Pakistan’s woes.

Netherlands Start Strong but Collapse Under Pressure
The Dutch team set up a competitive total, reaching 50/2 in the powerplay, with 14 runs coming in the sixth over. Captain Scott Edwards (37 off 29 balls) and Bas de Leede (30 off 25 balls) put together a 40-run fourth-wicket partnership, raising hopes of a 150+ score. The Netherlands were 100/3 after 12.1 overs, but Pakistan’s bowlers applied pressure, and wickets fell rapidly. Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz broke the Dutch middle order, while Salman Mirza finished with 3 wickets for 24 runs, restricting them to 147 all out in 19.5 overs.

A Dramatic Start to Pakistan’s Campaign
Pakistan’s victory, achieved from the brink of defeat, highlights the team’s resilience. Faheem Ashraf’s explosive finishing and Pakistan’s disciplined bowling ensured a memorable start to their T20 World Cup journey, earning two crucial points and a much-needed confidence boost for the tournament ahead.