Meet up with all of the motion from the T20 World Cup opener between Pakistan and the Netherlands
Faheem Ashraf produced a blistering late cameo as Pakistan edged previous a spirited Netherlands aspect in a tense opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Chasing 148, Pakistan appeared in deep trouble after a middle-order collapse regardless of a powerful begin and have been left needing 29 runs from the ultimate two overs. Batting at No. 8, Faheem turned the match by taking 22 runs off Logan van Beek within the penultimate over.
He struck three sixes and a 4 within the over and, with 4 runs required from 4 balls, completed the sport 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, together with 4 fours and a six, earlier than Aryan Dutt dismissed him within the third over with Pakistan 27-1.
Captain Salman Ali Agha joined Sahibzada Farhan to take care of the scoring fee and the group handed 50 inside 5 overs, though Agha fell quickly after for 12 from eight deliveries.
Farhan, alongside Babar Azam, continued the momentum and scored 47 from 29 balls. Pakistan have been effectively positioned at 98-2 after 11 overs earlier than the Netherlands mounted a pointy comeback, lowering them to 114-7.
Paul van Meekeren initiated the collapse within the twelfth over with two wickets in succession, dismissing Farhan after which Usman Khan for a duck.
Roelof van der Merwe adopted by eradicating Babar Azam for 15, leaving Pakistan 100-5 within the thirteenth over. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan departed cheaply because the chase faltered earlier than Faheem’s late intervention.
Earlier within the day, Pakistan’s bowlers, notably the spinners, pulled the scoring again to limit the Netherlands to 147 all out in 19.5 overs after they have been requested to bat first.
The Dutch started positively, with Michael Levitt putting a boundary off the opening supply and serving to his aspect attain 28 with out loss in three overs. Pakistan responded when Salman Mirza dismissed Max O’Dowd trying a pull shot.
Saim Ayub added additional stress by dismissing Logan van Beek for a first-ball duck and Zach Lion-Cachet for 9 to go away the Netherlands 129-7.
Shaheen Afridi eliminated Roelof van der Merwe for 4, whereas Salman Mirza wrapped up the innings within the last over by dismissing Aryan Dutt for 13 and Paul van Meekeren with out scoring.
