Netherlands vs Pakistan, 1st Match, ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Colombo, 2026 - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
NLD147/10(19.5)
PAK148/7(19.3)Pakistan won by 3 wickets (with 3 balls remaining)
Player of the Match
Faheem AshrafPakistan Survive Dutch Scare in World Cup Opener!
What a way to kick off the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026! In a heart-stopping tournament opener at Colombo, Pakistan narrowly escaped a historic upset, defeating the Netherlands by 3 wickets with just 3 balls to spare.
The Script: From Comfort to Chaos
After a clinical bowling display led by Salman Mirza (3/24) and Saim Ayub (2/7) bundled the Netherlands out for 147, the chase seemed like a formality. Pakistan started strong with Sahibzada Farhan (47 off 30), but a sensational middle-order collapse saw them slip from 98/2 to a terrifying 114/7.
With the Dutch sensing blood and Pakistan needing 33 runs from the final 18 balls, the "Men in Green" were staring down the barrel of a disastrous start.
The Hero: Faheem Ashraf’s Late Blitz
Just as the pressure reached a boiling point, Faheem Ashraf turned into a human highlight reel. In a game-changing 19th over, he smashed Logan van Beek for 24 runs, including three towering sixes, to effectively seal the game. He finished unbeaten on 29* off just 11 balls, surviving a dropped catch to steer Pakistan across the finish line.
Key Highlights:
Pakistan - 2nd Innings148/7 (19.3)Leede to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR
punched off the back foot for four
Leede to Faheem Ashraf, no run
pushed to the fielder
Leede to Shaheen Afridi, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR
driven through the covers
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX
smashed over the bowler's head
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
beaten outside off
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX
muscled over deep square leg
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs
worked to deep square, two taken
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, SIX
deposited into the crowd
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
pushed to the fielder
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
good length, no run
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, 2 runs
placed wide of mid-on, easy two
Meekeren to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run
pushed to long-off for one
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
good length, no run
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
good length, no run
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
defended back to the bowler
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, no run
defended back to the bowler
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, no run
pushed to the fielder
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, OUT! Catch Out
picks out the fielder, taken cleanly
Mohammad Nawaz 6(13) • FOW: 114/6
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, no run
beaten outside off
Klein to Shadab Khan, 1 run
tucked off the pads for a single
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, no run
pushed to the fielder
Klein to Shadab Khan, 1 run
rotates the strike
Netherlands - 1st Innings147/10 (19.5)Mirza to Paul van Meekeren, OUT! Catch Out
edges through to the keeper
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, OUT! Catch Out
lofts it straight to the fielder
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, 2 runs
nudged to leg, good running gets two
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, no run
blocked solidly
Mirza to Kyle Klein, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Afridi to Aryan Dutt, FOUR
punched off the back foot for four
Afridi to Kyle Klein, 1 run
rotates the strike
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, OUT! Catch Out
mistimes it and finds the fielder
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
defended back to the bowler
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
pushed to the fielder
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
blocked solidly
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
tucked off the pads for a single
Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
tucked off the pads for a single
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
left alone outside off
Ayub to Aryan Dutt, FOUR
driven straight down the ground
Ayub to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, OUT! Catch Out
edges through to the keeper
Ayub to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
nudged for a single
Ayub to Logan van Beek, OUT! Catch Out
picks out the fielder, taken cleanly
Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, 1 run
tucked off the pads for a single
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, OUT! Catch Out
that's the breakthrough
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, no run
good length, no run
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, 2 runs
worked to deep square, two taken
Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, 1 run
rotates the strike
Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, no run
watchful defence
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, 1 run
nudged for a single