Catch up with all the action from the T20 World Cup opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands
Faheem Ashraf produced a blistering late cameo as Pakistan edged past a spirited Netherlands side in a tense opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Chasing 148, Pakistan appeared in serious trouble after a middle-order collapse despite a strong start and were left needing 29 runs from the final two overs. Batting at No. 8, Faheem turned the match by taking 22 runs off Logan van Beek in the penultimate over.
He struck three sixes and a four in the over and, with four runs required from four balls, finished the game with a boundary. Faheem remained unbeaten on 29 from 11 deliveries as Pakistan secured the win with three balls to spare.
Earlier, opener Saim Ayub set the early tempo with 24 off 13 balls, including four fours and a six, before Aryan Dutt dismissed him in the third over with Pakistan 27-1.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined Sahibzada Farhan to maintain the scoring rate and the team passed 50 inside five overs, although Agha fell soon after for 12 from eight deliveries.
Farhan, alongside Babar Azam, continued the momentum and scored 47 from 29 balls. Pakistan were well placed at 98-2 after 11 overs before the Netherlands mounted a sharp comeback, reducing them to 114-7.
Paul van Meekeren initiated the collapse in the 12th over with two wickets in succession, dismissing Farhan and then Usman Khan for a duck.
Roelof van der Merwe followed by removing Babar Azam for 15, leaving Pakistan 100-5 in the 13th over. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan departed cheaply as the chase faltered before Faheem’s late intervention.
Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly the spinners, pulled the scoring back to restrict the Netherlands to 147 all out in 19.5 overs after they were asked to bat first.
The Dutch began positively, with Michael Levitt striking a boundary off the opening delivery and helping his side reach 28 without loss in three overs. Pakistan responded when Salman Mirza dismissed Max O’Dowd attempting a pull shot.
Saim Ayub added further pressure by dismissing Logan van Beek for a first-ball duck and Zach Lion-Cachet for nine to leave the Netherlands 129-7.
Shaheen Afridi removed Roelof van der Merwe for four, while Salman Mirza wrapped up the innings in the final over by dismissing Aryan Dutt for 13 and Paul van Meekeren without scoring.
