Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Aga, came from the jaws of defeat to win against the Netherlands in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday, February 7. Faheem Ashraf played a quick cameo in the final overs which helped them chase down the target with three balls to spare.
Netherlands scored a total of 147 runs when invited to bat first. Pakistan’s bowlers took wickets at regular intervals, preventing the Netherlands’ batsmen from finding any rhythm. The Men in Green looked set to chase the target before early wickets fell, but Faheem helped the team seal the win.
Faheem Ashraf leads Pakistan from the jaws of defeat to victory
Chasing the target, Pakistan were under immense pressure, needing 29 runs from the last 12 balls, with the Netherlands on the verge of a famous upset. Faheem Ashraf hit a six on the first ball, but the turning point came when Max O’Dowd dropped Faheem at long-on on the second ball of the over.
The missed opportunity proved costly as Pakistan took 24 runs in the final over, with just 5 runs left to win off the last six balls. What looked like a win-win situation for the Netherlands soon slipped away.
The last over was bowled by Bas de Leede and on the third ball, Faheem completed the chase by hitting a four on a full toss. Pakistan completed a dramatic turnaround and crossed the line with three wickets in hand and three balls to spare.
Netherlands were out for 147 runs in 19.5 overs.
When invited to bat, Netherlands got off to a good start, but Pakistan kept taking wickets to maintain control. Openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd added 28 runs, before Salman Mirza dismissed O’Dowd for 5 off 7 balls, while Mohammad Nawaz dismissed Levitt for 24 runs from 15 balls.
After this, Bas de Leede and Colin Ackerman added 34 runs for the third wicket. In the eighth over, Abrar Ahmed dismissed Ackerman for 20 runs in 14 balls, leaving the Netherlands at 65 for 3. De Leede later scored 30 off 25 balls before being dismissed by Nawaz.
Abrar took his second wicket by dismissing Scott Edwards for 37 runs in 29 balls. Sam Ayub took two wickets in an over, dismissing Logan Van Beek for naught and Zach Lyon-Cashette for 9. Shaheen Afridi then dismissed Roelof van der Merwe for 4 runs.
Salman Mirza ended the innings by dismissing Aryan Dutt for 13 runs and Paul Van Meekeren for zero. Mirza took three wickets, while Nawaz, Abrar and Saim Ayub took two wickets each.
Fans react to Pakistan’s win over Netherlands in the first match of T20 World Cup 2026
Pakistan’s win against Netherlands is disappointing.
That catch drop will always haunt O’Dowd. https://t.co/gJ7CauEZhk
-Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) 7 February 2026
What was the turn of emotions in the last few overs for Pakistan and Netherlands pic.twitter.com/6Z9MRxaQJq
– Jomboy (@Jomboy_) 7 February 2026
Pakistan is losing to Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/ft0o60sqRd
– Nitin (@theNitinWalke) 7 February 2026
The Netherlands were 77% favorites with two overs remaining. Pakistan is just Pakistan.* A great escape
(*it’s a compliment)#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/aSiwzNciOM
– Shreshth Shah (@sreshthx) 7 February 2026
For me, Netherlands is the real winner of this match. ICC changed the pitch in favor of Pakistan so that they can win the match pic.twitter.com/EoTYGxsCca
– Antibazabolion (Joe Root Pagaloo) (@rs_3702) 7 February 2026
The Netherlands is infamous for being the only European country to eat its Prime Minister. Well, Pakistan have just bowled them out after a dreadful over from Van Beek, just when the Dutch were looking to win. Pakistan survived this tense start.
– Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) 7 February 2026
Netherlands failed in the last two overs, otherwise Pakistan would have been eliminated in the first match of this World Cup.
-Adityaraj (@RR_for_LIFE) 7 February 2026
The match was in their bag, Netherlands defeated Pakistan
– Bharat (@cbae_02) 7 February 2026
Pakistan are a disgrace to modern T20, and Netherlands struggled but stopped badly, they should have won it.
– Sai (@akakrcb6) 7 February 2026
Pakistan troubled Netherlands!
– Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) 7 February 2026
This is an upset in the first match of the tournament!!!
Pakistan defeated Netherlands!!!!
Joker deserved to lose but a stormy innings by Ashraf made him win the game
– Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) 7 February 2026
T20 World Cup 2026 started with upheavals. Netherlands lost to Pakistan.
– Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) 7 February 2026
Disturbing warning: Pakistan beats Netherlands in thrilling match
– Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) 7 February 2026
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