Pakistan vs Netherlands highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Faheem Ashraf unleashes sixes as Pakistan beat Netherlands by 3 wickets in Colombo

Drama delivered, more to come - Right then, that is it from this edge-of-the-seat curtain-raiser at the World Cup, where Pakistan just get the better of the Netherlands to claim their first two points. However, the action does not stop here as the focus now shifts to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where West Indies are taking on Scotland. That one will get underway shortly, and you can simply switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that game. Cheers!

The victorious skipper of Pakistan - Salman Agha reflected on a hard-fought opening victory, noting that while his side successfully restricted the Netherlands to a total they were happy to chase, their batting performance lacked the clinical edge he demands. He credited his spinners for maintaining their excellent six-month form to hold things really well in the field, but he expressed concern over the mid-innings collapse that followed a strong start with the bat. Highlighting the difficulty of starting an innings in the prevailing conditions, Salman emphasized that set batters must take greater responsibility to finish games rather than succumbing to pressure. Agha acknowledged the fact that just 2-3 bad overs can change the course of a T20 game.

The captain of Netherlands - Scott Edwards says that they were not at their best in all three facets of the game, but credits his team for hanging in there. Adds that they kept losing wickets at crucial times and could not build partnerships. He thinks that a score of over 160 would have given them a better chance, but they kept fighting with the ball. Praises Roelof van der Merwe and Paul van Meekeren for getting them back in the game with a couple of excellent spells. Says that Pakistan were run-a-ball in the chase, but then Paul bowled a double-wicket maiden to change the game. Ends by saying that the boys kept fighting but cricket can be a cruel game.

Presentation time...

Dutch fightback undone at the death - The Netherlands will feel they had Pakistan within their grasp but let it slip away. For the first ten overs they looked out of the contest, but a double-wicket maiden from Paul van Meekeren pulled them right back into the game. They built on that momentum with a few more strikes to keep the pressure on the batters and did well to turn it into a real contest. However, Logan van Beek's 19th over went for 24 runs and tilted the game decisively. One cannot help but wonder if Max O’Dowd had clung on to that chance off Ashraf, the story might have read very differently.

A tale of two halves for the Netherlands - Earlier in the game, the Netherlands posted a somewhat decent total, but they could have got much more considering they were cruising at 127/4 before losing their last six wickets for just 20 runs. There were still a few positives, with Bas de Leede and skipper Scott Edwards leading the way through the middle overs. It was a strong all-round bowling effort from Pakistan, with Mirza picking up a three-fer, while the spinners, apart from Shadab Khan, shared six wickets between them, and Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one.

A chase full of twists and turns - Pakistan's chase started brightly, but Saim Ayub went a little too hard too early and fell after a breezy cameo, with Agha following him soon after despite playing a few crisp shots. Still, they raced to 61 in the Powerplay, largely driven by Sahibzada Farhan's attacking intent. Pakistan were 11 runs ahead of the Dutch at the break, but once Farhan departed for 47, things unraveled quickly, slipping from 98/2 to 98/4 and then from 114/5 to 114/7, leaving them needing 33 from the final three overs. With the pressure mounting, Faheem Ashraf stepped up, smashing 24 runs in the 19th over to all but seal the game before calmly finishing the job without further trouble.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - It is none other than Faheem Ashraf for his knock of 29 off 11 balls. He attributed his match-winning performance to the aggressive, consistent brand of cricket Pakistan has cultivated over the past year. Addressing the high-pressure finish, Ashraf noted that his extensive experience in tight situations allowed him to maintain a calm mindset, focusing purely on his team role rather than the mounting tension. He revealed that his partnership strategy centered on wicket preservation and calculated accumulation, confident that boundaries would eventually flow if they stayed at the crease. While he humorously admitted to a moment of desperate prayer during a critical dropped catch, noting that his entire body was 'praying for the ball to drop' and he took pride in his ability to control his nerves during a mid-innings collapse, ultimately guiding his side to a successful result through disciplined execution.

Pakistan hold their nerve in a thriller - Phew! A thriller to kickstart the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and Pakistan have escaped from jail here, with all the credit going to Faheem Ashraf for his match-winning 29 off 11 under pressure. The Netherlands were in front going into the final three overs, but they have let it slip away and suffer heartbreak in the opening clash.

Bas de Leede to Faheem Ashraf, ​​​​​​FOUR! Pakistan win by 3 wickets. A game-defining knock from Faheem Ashraf as he finishes things off in style with 29 off 11 balls. Full toss, wide of off, Faheem Ashraf pumps this wide to the fielder at sweeper cover and the ball bounces just in front of the fence and goes over it for four. 

Bas de Leede to Faheem Ashraf, Slower bumper, around off. Faheem Ashraf goes for the hook but misses.

Bas de Leede to Shaheen Afridi, Good length on middle and leg, Shaheen pulls this to deep square leg for a run.

24 runs from the last over, and this game has slipped away from the Dutch. And with Kyle Klein out of the field, it will be Bas de Leede to bowl the last over. He has 4 runs to defend here. 5 for Pakistan to win. Is there more twist left? 

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR! Edged and gone for four. 24 off this Logan van Beek over and this game has changed on its head. Good length around off, Faheem Ashraf swings at it, gets the outside edge and the ball races between the keeper and short third for a boundary. 5 needed off 6 balls. 

PAK vs NED T20 World Cup Live Score: Whose game is this?

Just when it seemed the Netherlands were closing in on a famous upset as Pakistan stumbled in the chase, Faheem Ashraf flipped the script in dramatic fashion. With the asking rate climbing and pressure mounting, the all-rounder took on Logan van Beek and struck two towering sixes that sucked the air out of the Dutch camp. The blows not only swung momentum back Pakistan’s way but also calmed nerves in the dressing room. From a tense situation, Pakistan suddenly found themselves needing just 15 runs from nine balls, with belief firmly restored and the finish line now clearly in sight.

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX! Third biggie off the over and Faheem Ashraf has played a blinder here. Slower one, good length, on the pads, Faheem Ashraf slogs this deep into the crowd towards the deep square leg region for a telling six. 

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, Wide yorker, around off, Faheem Ashraf looks to get bat on ball but misses.

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX! Salt on the wounds of the Dutch side as Faheem Ashraf smashes another biggie. Hard length, around off, Faheem Ashraf stands his ground and smashes up and over the fence towards the long off region for yet another biggie. 15 off 9.

Kyle Klein is suffering from cramps, and unforutnately he is walking off the field now with the help of the physio. Hopefully, it is nothing serious.

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, DROPPED! That's what pressure does to you. Low full toss, slower around off, Faheem Ashraf goes after it, miscues it off the cue end and hits this to the right of Max O'Dowd at long on. Max runs to his right and does the hard work but as he falls on the deck, the ball pops out and Faheem Ashraf gets a lifeline. A couple more taken. 

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX! Pressure reliever for Faheem Ashraf and that Pakistan dugout. Good length on middle and leg, Faheem Ashraf stays leg side to it and slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a huge six. 23 needed now off the last 11 balls.

Will Logan van Beek bowl the penultimate over, or will Scott Edwards save him for the last? It is van Beek to bowl the 19th. 29 needed in 12 balls.

Paul van Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, Slower one, short and on leg, fingers rolled on this from Paul. Shaheen Afridi goes for a pull again but misses yet again. 

Paul van Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, Some spice from the pacer as Paul van Meekeren bangs this short and on leg, Shaheen Afridi backs away and looks to pull but misses.

Paul van Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, Back of a length, wide of off, Shaheen Afridi chips this behind the fielder at mid off and takes a couple here.

Paul van Meekeren to Faheem Ashraf, Full and wide of off, Faheem Ashraf drives this to deep point for a single. 

Paul van Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, Clever from Paul as he follows Shaheen Afridi to his leg and cramps the batter for any sort of room. Shaheen Afridi edges this off the inside, onto his pads for a single as the ball rolls through silly point.

Paul van Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, Around that nagging length, going across the batter. Shaheen Afridi looks to block but gets beaten. 

Paul van Meekeren to bowl out now. He has been superb, giving away just 16 runs in his 3 overs, which includes a double-wicket maiden.

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, Good length around off, Faheem Ashraf pushes this to backward point and has to settle for another dot. 33 runs needed off the last 3 overs.

Logan van Beek to Faheem Ashraf, Back of a length around off, Faheem Ashraf pushes this to point for no run.

Logan van Beek to Shaheen Afridi, Full and on off, Shaheen Afridi thumps this down to long off for a single.

Logan van Beek to Shaheen Afridi, On a length around off, Shaheen Afridi punches this to covers.

PAK vs NED T20 World Cup Live Score: Netherlands sense upset

Logan van Beek get the big wicket. Shadab Khan gone. A big big wicket for the Netherlands at the moments. Netherlands fan are enjoying. They have erupted in joy. One stage, Pakistan were crusing and now 7 down

Pakistan still need 34 runs in 23 balls

Logan van Beek to Shaheen Afridi, Good length around off, Shaheen Afridi pokes at it but misses. 

Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat now, with Pakistan in a spot of bother here.

PAK vs NED T20 World Cup Live Score: STAT

Stat - Aryan Dutt bowled 15 out of 24 balls into the good length zone today, conceded just 17 runs off those, and picked two wickets.

Is that out? Shadab Khan has been strangled down the leg side, but he has taken a review here. The UltraEdge comes up and shows a clear spike when the ball passes the bat. It is OUT.

Logan van Beek to Shadab Khan, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Two-in-two for the Netherlands and they have the upper hand for the first time in this contest. Good length, around the pads, Shadab Khan looks to flick this around fine leg but manages just a faint tickle that is taken behind the stumps by Scott Edwards. However, he has taken the review here, but does not look that confident. UltraEdge confirms the edge and he has to walk back now. Pakistan are 114/7 now, still needing 34 runs in 23 balls.

We have a game on our hands now! Faheem Ashraf joins Shadab Khan out in the middle now. Also, Logan van Beek (2-0-21-0) comes back into the attack.

Kyle Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Nawaz throws in the towel with a mistimed stroke in anger and has to walk back. Kyle Klein continues from around the stumps, rolls his fingers on a short one into the batter. Mohammad Nawaz clears his front foot and looks to heave this out of the park but mishits this. The ball hangs over the keeper and Scott Edwards does the rest by pouching this cleanly. 34 needed off 24 balls. 

Kyle Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, Slower one, short and wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz leaves it expecting a wide but the umpire calls it a fair one.

Kyle Klein to Shadab Khan, Pitched up, around off, Shadab Khan hammers this to the right of the fielder at mid off. Max O'Dowd does well to put in a dive to his right and keep it down to one.

Kyle Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, On a length around middle and off, Mohammad Nawaz heaves it around the cow corner for a single.

Kyle Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, Good length, wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz has a go at it with a wild slash but misses out.

Kyle Klein to Shadab Khan, On a length around middle and off, Shadab Khan chips this through mid on for one.

Aryan Dutt to Shadab Khan, Fires this one full and around off, Shadab Khan goes down across for the paddle but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls wide of short third. They cross. There is also a shout for LBW, but turned down as the impact is way outside off. Aryan Dutt finishes a good spell of bowling with figures of 4-0-33-2.

Aryan Dutt to Mohammad Nawaz, Flatter, full and on leg, Mohammad Nawaz flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for another run.

Aryan Dutt to Mohammad Nawaz, Pushed through quicker, short and on middle, goes in with the arm. Mohammad Nawaz gets hurried on the back foot and just about keeps it out.

Aryan Dutt to Shadab Khan, Floated, full and on middle, Shadab Khan drills it to long on for a run.