T20 World Cup: Pakistan narrowly beats Netherlands by 3 wickets

Pakistan survived a massive scare in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, edging out the Netherlands by three wickets at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday. Chasing a modest target of 148, Pakistan appeared to be cruising at 98/2 before a catastrophic collapse saw them slip to 114/7. Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt led a spirited Dutch fightback, leaving the former champions needing 29 runs from the final 12 deliveries in a match that seemed destined for a historic upset.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the 19th over when all-rounder Faheem Ashraf took charge. Capitalizing on a dropped catch by Max O’Dowd, Ashraf smashed Logan van Beek for three sixes and a four, ransacking 24 runs in a single over to bring the equation down to just five runs for the final six balls. He finished the game with a boundary on the third ball of the last over, ending with an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls to secure two vital points for Salman Ali Agha’s side.

Earlier in the day, the Netherlands posted 147 all out after being put in to bat. Captain Scott Edwards (37) and Bas de Leede (30) provided a solid foundation, guiding their team to 105/3 at the halfway mark. However, Pakistan’s bowling attack, led by Salman Mirza’s 3/24 and crucial spells from Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub, triggered a late-innings collapse. The Dutch lost their final six wickets for just 20 runs, failing to capitalize on a start that at one point promised a total well above 160.

While Pakistan will be relieved to start their campaign with a victory, the narrow margin of win raised questions about their middle-order stability. Sahibzada Farhan’s fluent 47 at the top of the order was overshadowed by the quick departures of Babar Azam and Usman Khan, which almost handed the initiative to the Netherlands. Despite the loss, the Dutch side earned praise for their fearless approach and disciplined bowling, proving once again they are a formidable challenge for top-tier nations.