As per the T20 World Cup 2026 opening match on Saturday in Colombo, Faheem Ashraf’s late hitting helped Pakistan win by three wickets against Netherlands. Regarding the match result, it was a thrilling victory for Pakistan. Pakistan made a strong start in chasing the target of 148 runs, with Sahibzada Farhan himself scoring 47 runs from 31 balls. This innings further helped Pakistan get off to a brilliant beginning in their chase. However, we are seeing Netherlands bringing a new change as they took quick wickets only, making Pakistan seven down. As per the match details, Faheem Ashraf made an unbeaten 29 runs from 11 balls with two fours and three sixes to help Pakistan win the game. Pakistan’s spinners surely dominated earlier by dismissing the Netherlands for just 147 runs. Moreover, this bowling performance put Pakistan in a strong position to control the match.
TOSS-
Pakistan has surely won the toss and decided to field first. Moreover, this strategic decision allows them to assess the pitch conditions before batting.
PLAYING XI-
As per the team selection, Pakistan’s playing eleven is regarding the match lineup.
The Pakistan cricket team lineup further includes Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, captain Salman Agha, Babar Azam, wicket-keeper Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed. This squad itself represents the selected players for the match.
Netherlands team actually has their playing eleven selected. They definitely announced their final squad.
The Dutch cricket team includes Michael Levitt, Max O’Dowd, Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, captain-wicketkeeper Scott Edwards, Zach Lion Cachet, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Kyle Klein, and Paul van Meekeren, which itself represents a balanced squad for further international competitions.
NETHERLANDS-
Netherlands were asked to bat first but surely left many runs unscored after getting bowled out for just 147. Moreover, this total seemed insufficient given the batting conditions available to them. Michael Levitt actually started with a boundary on the first ball, and the team definitely reached 50 runs even though both opening batsmen got out in the PowerPlay. When the field actually spread out, Pakistan’s spin bowlers definitely got better control of the game.
Abrar Ahmed actually made a quick impact when Colin Ackermann definitely chopped the ball onto his stumps in the first over. Captain Scott Edwards kept the innings steady with small partnerships, but he got out in the 16th over while trying to score fast against Abrar, and this dismissal started a collapse as per the match situation regarding the team’s batting performance.
Saim Ayub actually took two wickets in the next over when he got Logan van Beek and Zach Lion Cachet out. Netherlands definitely fell quickly from 127 for 4 to 147 all out. Basically, Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets and Salman Mirza got the same number in the last over to finish with 3 for 24.
Basically Edwards scored the highest with 37 runs from 29 balls, but Netherlands needed the same – one batsman to stay longer at the crease. Also, basically, Pakistan was the same throughout – they were sharp in fielding. Salman Ali Agha and Sahibzada Farhan actually took sharp catches, and Babar with Shaheen Afridi definitely helped with relay work to make up for the middle-order batting problems.
PAKISTAN-
Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub scored 27 runs in first two overs, and even after Aryan Dutt took two wickets in PowerPlay regarding Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha, Farhan kept hitting boundaries as per his batting style. As per the match situation, Pakistan scored 61 runs for 2 wickets after six overs and looked in full control regarding their batting performance.
Farhan further partnered with Babar Azam to build a 45-run partnership for the third wicket, and this partnership itself helped Pakistan reach the halfway stage without much trouble. The game actually changed in the 11th over when Paul van Meekeren definitely took two wickets without giving any runs. Farhan was actually caught in the deep field by Roelof van der Merwe and Usman Khan definitely hit the ball onto his stumps. Babar surely struggled to score his first boundary, taking 15 balls before getting out at long-off. Moreover, his dismissal caused the team’s chase to fall apart quickly.
The pressure actually increased when van Meekeren and Dutt bowled tight overs one after another, definitely making the required run rate go up fast. Kyle Klein basically got Mohammad Nawaz out with a slow ball that made him hit badly, and the same bowler van Beek got Shadab Khan out down the leg side on the very next ball. When wickets were falling quickly, Netherlands actually looked like they would definitely win, but O’Dowd missed a catch and then Faheem hit many runs to change the game.
Brief Scores:
Basically, Netherlands scored 147 runs but Pakistan chased the same target and won by 3 wickets with 3 balls remaining.
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