Pakistan began their T20 World Cup campaign with a tense three-wicket win over the Netherlands in Colombo, surviving a dramatic late collapse before Faheem Ashraf’s explosive hitting sealed victory with three balls to spare.
Chasing 148, Pakistan slipped from a comfortable position into trouble before recovering in the final overs to avoid an early shock.
Nervy Start to the Chase
After restricting the Netherlands to 147, Pakistan appeared in control as Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a fluent 47 off 31 balls. The openers guided the side to 98 for two, setting up what looked like a routine chase.
However, Farhan’s dismissal triggered a collapse, with Pakistan losing five wickets for just 16 runs as Dutch bowlers tightened the pressure.
Netherlands Show Strong Fight
Earlier, the Netherlands made a promising start after being asked to bat first. Michael Levitt struck a quick 24, while Bas de Leede and captain Scott Edwards added stability in the middle overs.
At 105 for three, the Dutch side looked on course for a bigger total, but Salman Mirza led Pakistan’s fightback with three wickets. Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub also chipped in as the Netherlands lost their final six wickets for 20 runs.
Ashraf’s Late Match-Winning Burst
With 29 runs needed from the last two overs, Pakistan were on the brink of an upset. Faheem Ashraf then turned the match around with fearless hitting, smashing three sixes and a four in the penultimate over.
After surviving a dropped catch, Ashraf stayed calm in the final over and struck the winning boundary to finish unbeaten on 29 off 11 balls.
Relief for Pakistan Camp
The narrow victory brought relief to Pakistan, who entered the tournament under pressure following off-field concerns and safety debates. While the result gave them two vital points, the performance highlighted areas needing improvement.
With tougher challenges ahead, Pakistan will look to build consistency and avoid similar scares as the group stage progresses.
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