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

Shadab Khan to Colin Ackermann, FOUR! Fine shot! Flighted, full and on middle. Colin Ackermann goes down on one knee and nails the slog sweep between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Dragged back and on off, Bas de Leede stabs it out to extra cover for one more.

Shadab Khan to Colin Ackermann, Short again and around off, Colin Ackermann punches it to long off fora run.

Shadab Khan to Colin Ackermann, Short and outside off, Colin Ackermann cuts it away to point.

Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Floated, full and on off, Bas de Leede drills it hard and wide of short cover, where Salman Mirza gets a good left hand on it to make the half-stop. They cross.

Shadab Khan to Colin Ackermann, Tossed up, full and on off, Colin Ackermann drives it towards long off for a single.

End of the Powerplay - As the players head for a drinks break at the conclusion of the Powerplay, the Netherlands find themselves in a position of quiet confidence despite sitting two wickets down. Their primary objective, asserting early dominance, has largely been achieved through Michael Levitt’s fearless aggression, which saw the Dutch take full advantage of the hard deck to punish the Pakistani pace battery. However, the game’s narrative is poised for a significant shift as the fielding restrictions ease. The real trial for this batting unit begins now as Pakistan prepares to unleash its spin trio, with Abrar Ahmed’s mystery, Saim Ayub’s handy off-spin, and Shadab Khan's leg-breaks yet to be introduced. The Netherlands must successfully transition from high-risk hitting to calculated accumulation to ensure they capitalize on their flying start.

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, FOUR! Excellent end to the Powerplay! Short of a length and outside off. Bas de Leede gets the chance to free his arms and crunches it through point for a boundary. Netherlands are 50/2 after 6 overs!

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, Fuller delivery, on off, Colin Ackermann goes down across to swipe it away but misses as the ball goes off his pads to the leg side. The batters cross for a leg bye.

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, Swing and a miss! Back of a length and around off, angling away from the batter. Colin Ackermann looks to heave it across the line but fails to connect.

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, WIDE! Bangs in a bouncer but down the leg side, Colin Ackermann lets it go to the keeper. Called a wide.

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, FOUR! Wow..that is a top shot! Salman Mirza goes a bit too full and on off. Colin Ackermann gets onto it quickly, shows the face of the bat and drills it away to the long off fence for another boundary.

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, Touch fuller and around off, Colin Ackermann pushes it towards extra cover.

Salman Mirza to Colin Ackermann, FOUR! Lovely shot! Short of a length and on middle and leg, not short enough to trouble the batter. Colin Ackermann backs away and swats it to the left of mid on for a boundary.

Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, Pushed through from Nawaz, on off. Bas de Leede punches this to extra cover. 

Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, FOUR! Now that's a top-quality stroke from Bas de Leede. Tossed up, around middle and off, Bas de Leede jumps to the pitch of the ball and smashes this straight past the bowler for a boundary in front of the sight screen. 

Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, Pushed through on off, Bas de Leede fails to beat cover-point.

Mohammad Nawaz to Colin Ackermann, Full and on the pads, Colin Ackermann flicks this through square leg for a single. 

Both the Dutch openers are gone now. That brings Colin Ackermann out to the middle now.

Is that a clean catch? If it is, then Babar Azam has done an amazing job here at the ropes. The replay shows that he has flicked the ball to Shaheen Afridi just in time before going over the ropes, and it is OUT.

Mohammad Nawaz to Michael Levitt, OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent rally take between Babar and Shaheen Afridi gets rid of a dangerous-looking Michael Levitt. Top-spinner, around off, Michael Levitt gives himself a bit of room by backing away to his leg. Swings at it but fails to get right underneath it. The ball was still going to the fence down the ground. Babar Azam moves to his left from long off and gathers this with the momentum, taking him over the fence. Babar was smart enough to release the ball just in time and pick Shaheen Afridi, who was covering him from long on. Shaheen Afridi ends up pouching this at the end. This is checked for a fair catch and just after one look, the third umpire decides that it is a clean catch and Michael Levitt departs. 

Mohammad Nawaz to Michael Levitt, Tossed up, in the line of the stumps. Michael Levitt was thinking about a wild swing at it but ends up pushing this to covers.

It won't be long before Pakistan intorduce spin here to change the pace of the game.

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, Salman Mirza comes around the stumps for the final ball of the over and darts in a wide yorker. Bas looks to block this one but misses out.

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, WIDE! Slower one, short and on off. Bas de Leede bails out of the stroke as he feels that this is a bit too high and the umpire acknowledges it with a signal of wide. 

Salman Mirza to Michael Levitt, Full and around off this time from Mirza. Michael Levitt pushes this towards mid off and takes a run.

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, Good length on the pads, Bas de Leede tucks this in front of Shaheen Afridi at mid on and takes one. Shaheen Afridi does hit the stumps with a direct hit towards the non-striker's end but the batter was safely in. 

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, Low full toss, around middle and off, Bas de Leede rolls this back to the bowler.

Salman Mirza to Bas de Leede, Hard length, on top of middle and off. Bas de Leede blocks this out.

First one down for Netherlands. Bas de Leede walks out to bat at number 3.

Salman Mirza to Max O'Dowd, OUT! CAUGHT! Slower cutter, short of a length, going across the batter, around his off-stump. Max O'Dowd looks to pull this over the deep mid-wicket region but gets it miscued off the cue end of his bat as the ball gets big on him. The ball hangs around square leg and Usman Khan, from behind the stumps, calls for it loud and clear. Khan makes good ground, judges this well and holds onto it. Max O'Dowd departs for 5 off 7.

Shaheen Afridi to Max O'Dowd, A touch fuller, on middle and leg, Max O'Dowd gently rolls this in front of Babar Azam at mid on and takes a quick one. Babar was pushed to the end of the circle because of the way Levitt has smashed the white leather. 

Shaheen Afridi to Max O'Dowd, Hard length, on middle and off, Max O'Dowd plays this late and guides this to short third. 

Shaheen Afridi to Michael Levitt, Back of a length around middle and leg, Michael Levitt dabs this off his back foot and steals a run. 

The umpires are having a look at the ball. The ball landed on the road outside the ground, and it has damaged it a bit. Now, the briefcase comes out, and the replacement has been chosen. 

Shaheen Afridi to Michael Levitt, SIX! Shaheen has been pumped out of the park. Short and on middle and off, Michael Levitt picks the length early, rocks deep inside the crease and gives it a full monty. Pulls this right out of the middle of his bat and smashes this out of the park towards the deep square leg region. 

Shaheen Afridi to Michael Levitt, Pitched up, around the pads, Michael Levitt flicks this to the left of the fielder at deep square leg for a brace this time. 

Shaheen Afridi to Michael Levitt, FOUR! Well, Levitt has decided not to let the Pakistani pacers settle. Third over of the game and every over has started with a boundary. Good length on middle and off, Michael Levitt gives himself a bit of room by shuffling to his leg and pulls this over the mid-wicket region for a boundary. 

Salman Mirza to Max O'Dowd, Cutter, going across the batter, Max O'Dowd gives it a good look and decides not to poke at it as the ball keeps low as well.

Salman Mirza to Max O'Dowd, Inswinging fuller one, around off, Max O'Dowd bumps this onto his shoe and in the empty pocket to silly mid off for a dot. 

Salman Mirza to Michael Levitt, Mirza goes full with a slower one, around off. Michael Levitt swings at it. Gets it edged towards the deep third region, where Faheem Ashraf fields this and keeps it down to one. 

Salman Mirza to Michael Levitt, Good length, going across the batter, Michael Levitt stands and swings at it. The ball shapes away from Levitt and he is beaten.

Salman Mirza to Michael Levitt, Salman Mirza drags his length back, bowls it short and on middle and off. Michael Levitt gets up on his toes and punts this to point.

Salman Mirza to Michael Levitt, FOUR! WOW! Just sit and admire this cracker from Michael Levitt. Good length, around off, shaping away from the batter. Michael Levitt rides the bounce and smashes this past the right of the fielder at extra cover for a boundary to greet Mirza into the attack. 

Interesting Stat - Ramiz Raza, on air, mentions that the entire Netherlands squad for this World Cup bats right-handed, no lefties whatsoever. Also, Salman Mirza will share the attack.

Shaheen Afridi to Max O'Dowd, Beauty from Afridi. Around that nagging length, on middle and off, shaping away from the right-hander. Max O'Dowd rocks back and looks to block this off his back foot but gets beaten on the outside. 

Shaheen Afridi to Max O'Dowd, FOUR! Just like Levitt, even Max O'Dowd is up and running with a boundary. Good length around middle and leg, Max O'Dowd stands still and flicks this through the fine leg region for a boundary to get off the mark. 

Shaheen Afridi to Michael Levitt, Hard length on off, Michael punches this to backward points left for a single.