PAK vs NED 1st Match T20 World Cup 2026: In a dramatic start to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan opened their campaign with a close three-wicket victory over the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
The match swung wildly in the second half before Pakistan’s depth and late hitting secured a thrilling win.
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, sending the Dutch into bat. The Netherlands made early inroads but lacked enough big partnerships to push past a competitive score.
They were eventually bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Paul van Meekeren and other bowlers made things difficult for Pakistan, keeping the scoring tight in the middle overs.
Scott Edwards top-scored for the Dutch with a solid contribution, but the rest of the lineup couldn’t turn starts into big scores — leaving a target Pakistan would come to rue later.
Chasing 148, Pakistan started brightly. Sahibzada Farhan set the tone with an aggressive knock, putting together a strong opening stand.
At 61 for 2 after six overs, Pakistan seemed to be cruising. However, momentum shifted dramatically mid-innings.
Wickets tumbled as the Dutch bowlers struck in quick succession. Babar Azam and others failed to convert starts, and the score collapsed from 98/2 to 114/7, putting Pakistan in a dangerous spot deep into the chase.
Just when the contest seemed tilted in the Netherlands’ favour, Faheem Ashraf changed the game in the final stages.
With Pakistan still needing runs and the pressure building, Faheem delivered a blistering 29 not out off 11 balls, hammering vital boundaries and sixes.
His late-innings fireworks turned the tide and lifted Pakistan over the line with just three balls to spare.
Comments (0)