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
swept fine for four
Leede to Faheem Ashraf, no run
blocked solidly
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
deposited into the crowd
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
good length, no run
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
sent sailing over the ropes
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
played and missed
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
blocked solidly
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
worked away for one
Meekeren to Shaheen Afridi, no run
played and missed
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
left alone outside off
Beek to Faheem Ashraf, no run
beaten outside off
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, no run
watchful defence
Beek to Shaheen Afridi, no run
beaten outside off
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
defended back to the bowler
Klein to Shadab Khan, 1 run
pushed to long-off for one
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Klein to Mohammad Nawaz, no run
watchful defence
Klein to Shadab Khan, 1 run
tucked off the pads for a single
Netherlands - 1st Innings147/10 (19.5)Mirza to Paul van Meekeren, OUT! Catch Out
lofts it straight to the fielder
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, OUT! Catch Out
mistimes it and finds the fielder
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, 2 runs
nudged to leg, good running gets two
Mirza to Aryan Dutt, no run
defended back to the bowler
Mirza to Kyle Klein, 1 run
rotates the strike
Afridi to Aryan Dutt, FOUR
driven through the covers
Afridi to Kyle Klein, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, OUT! Catch Out
lofts it straight to the fielder
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
played and missed
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
left alone outside off
Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
blocked solidly
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
nudged for a single
Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
pushed to long-off for one
Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
drops it and takes a quick single
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
dabbed to third man for one
Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, no run
good length, no run
Ayub to Aryan Dutt, FOUR
finds the gap, races to the fence
Ayub to Roelof van der Merwe, 1 run
worked away for one
Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, OUT! Catch Out
picks out the fielder, taken cleanly
Ayub to Aryan Dutt, 1 run
worked away for one
Ayub to Logan van Beek, OUT! Catch Out
lofts it straight to the fielder
Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, 1 run
rotates the strike
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, OUT! Catch Out
big wicket for the bowling side
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, no run
left alone outside off
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, 2 runs
nudged to leg, good running gets two
Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, 1 run
rotates the strike
Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, no run
played and missed
Ahmed to Scott Edwards, 1 run
pushed to long-off for one