Pakistan vs Netherlands highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Faheem Ashraf unleashes sixes as Pakistan beat Netherlands by 3 wickets in Colombo

Aryan Dutt to Saim Ayub, Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in. Saim Ayub winds up for the pull but adjusts to the length and fends it to the leg side.

Aryan Dutt to Saim Ayub, SIX! BANG! Intent early on from Saim Ayub. Floated, full and around middle. Ayub skips down the track to get to the pitch of the ball and tonks it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Aryan Dutt to Saim Ayub, Tossed up, full and on middle, Saim Ayub gets forward and blocks it out.

We are back for the chase! Saim Ayub has walked out with Sahibzada Farhan to open for Pakistan. It will be spin to start for the Netherlands as Aryan Dutt has the ball in his hands. 

Aryan Dutt to Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan are underway in the chase! Aryan Dutt starts with a short delivery, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan punches it towards long on for a single.

... THE RUN CHASE ...

The chase ahead - On paper, a target of 148 is well within the reach of the Pakistan side. However, as history has shown, Pakistan’s performances on the world stage are rarely devoid of drama. While they possess the firepower and a new, aggressive strategy to chase this down comfortably, the Big Stage jitters that often plague the Green Shirts remain a factor. With 147 on the board, the Dutch have a modest but defendable total. If they can apply early scoreboard pressure, we could be in for a classic. Stay tuned as we return with the chase. 

Pakistan’s spin web - The primary cause of the Dutch collapse was the introduction of Pakistan’s multi-faceted spin attack. The quartet of Saim Ayub, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Shadab Khan proved to be the ultimate difference-makers, dismantling the middle order and claiming six wickets in total. Saim, Nawaz, and Abrar were particularly clinical, picking up two scalps each and squeezing the life out of the scoring rate. While Shaheen Shah Afridi endured an expensive opening spell, he returned late to claim a wicket, supported by Salman Mirza, who provided a vital breakthrough to wrap the tail and end with 3 wickets to help restrict the Dutch to 147.

The launch that never came - Despite the early fireworks, the Netherlands will feel they left runs on the table after promising so much more. Around the 13-over mark, the Dutch were cruising at 105/4 and looked poised for a massive finish. However, they completely lost their way in the final six overs. Key figures like Scott Edwards, Michael Levitt, and Bas de Leede all looked comfortable but fell at critical junctures just as they were preparing to launch. This inability to maintain a set batter into the death overs saw the innings stutter, leaving them perhaps 30-40 runs short of the towering total they once seemed destined to reach.

The Dutch charge and fall - What an epic collapse for the Dutch! From 127/4, their innings nosedived and got bundled out for 147. Adopting a fearless front-foot philosophy, the Dutch raced to 50 runs within the Powerplay for the loss of just two wickets. Michael Levitt set the tone early, spearheading an aggressive intent. There was no tentative feeling-out period as every batter arrived with a crystal-clear mandate to play each delivery on its merit while hunting for boundaries. Although the innings lacked the desired finishing touches. 

Salman Mirza to Paul van Meekeren, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Salman Mirza wraps things up here. He hits the length hard and on middle. Paul van Meekeren backs away and has a big heave across the line. He loses his bottom hand and gets a thick outside edge behind, where the keeper, Usman Khan, makes no mistake. Netherlands have been bowled out for 147.

Paul van Meekeren is the last batter out in the middle to bat for the Netherlands. 

Salman Mirza to Aryan Dutt, OUT! TAKEN! Another one bites the dust. Salman Mirza bowls this fuller, on middle and leg, takes pace off. Aryan Dutt has a no-look slog at it but only manages to get a top edge due to the lack of pace on the ball. It goes miles in the air towards deep square leg, where two fielders converge, but the calling from Sahibzada Farhan is good. He moves to his left, settles under it and takes a fine catch. Nine down for Netherlands.

Salman Mirza to Aryan Dutt, Pitched up and around off, Aryan Dutt drills it away, beating extra cover, but the fielder in the deep runs to his right and makes a good sliding stop. Two taken.

Salman Mirza to Aryan Dutt, Salman Mirza bangs in a quick and sharp bouncer, on middle. Aryan Dutt sways away and tries to upper cut it but it is a bit too quick for him.

Salman Mirza to Kyle Klein, Short of a length and outside off, Kyle Klein cuts it to deep point for a single. Good result for the Dutch as Dutt is back on strike.

Salman Mirza to bowl the final over of this inning. 

Shaheen Afridi to Aryan Dutt, FOUR! Powered away! Shaheen Afridi misses the yorker again, serves this full and outside off. Aryan Dutt extends his arms to get right underneath it and smacks it through extra cover for a boundary.

Shaheen Afridi to Kyle Klein, Full and wide of off, Kyle Klein drives this to sweeper cover for a run. 

Kyle Klein is the next batter out in the middle.

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, OUT! IN THE AIR...GONE! Change of pace works for Shaheen Afridi. He serves this full again and on off. Roelof van der Merwe looks to take it on and slogs across the line but goes through his shot a bit too early. Gets a top edge as the ball flies in the air towards mid off, where Salman Agha backtracks, gets under the high ball and pouches it safely with a reverse cup. Netherlands are 139/8 now.

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, Swing and a miss! Misses the yorker and bowls a full delivery, around off, Roelof van der Merwe has a big swing across the line only to connect with thin air.

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, Shaheen Afridi nails the wide yorker, outside off, Roelof van der Merwe fails to dig it out.

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe, Run out chance...missed! Fuller delivery and around off, Roelof van der Merwe opens the face of his bat and drives it wide of backward point. He sets off for the run without looking at the ball. Saim Ayub dives to his left to make a fine stop. He gets up, takes aim but misses the shy at the batter's end. Roelof van der Merwe was nowhere near the crease.

Abrar Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, Gives this one some more air, full and on off, Roelof van der Merwe forces it down to long off for one more. Massive change of events as Netherlands are now found struggling to even touch 150. This is exceptional death bowling from the Men in Green. 

Abrar Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, Uppish but safe! This is slower through the air, full and on off, turns away. Aryan Dutt looks to clip it across the line but fails to read the spin. It goes off the leading edge but drops safely in the vacant extra cover region. They cross.

Abrar Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, Flighted, full and on middle, Roelof van der Merwe goes down and slogs it towards deep mid-wicket for another run.

Abrar Ahmed to Aryan Dutt, Quicker and shorter, on middle, Aryan Dutt nudges it out towards mid-wicket for a run.

Abrar Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, Flatter, shortish and on off, Roelof van der Merwe gets hurried but manages to stab it out towards backward point for a single.

Abrar Ahmed to Roelof van der Merwe, Flights it up, full and around off, Roelof van der Merwe cannot get under it and mistimes the drive towards short cover.

Saim Ayub to Aryan Dutt, FOUR! A cracking drive from the bat of Aryan Dutt to end the over with a boundary. Tossed up, around middle and off, Aryan Dutt strides to the pitch of the ball and drives this grounded through the covers region for four runs. 

Saim Ayub to Roelof van der Merwe, Slows it up, full and on off, Roelof van der Merwe taps it out towards cover-point for one.

Roelof van der Merwe joins Aryan Dutt out in the middle. 

Saim Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, OUT! CAUGHT! Saim Ayub with the double strike. He drops it short and around middle, it is there to be put away. Zach Lion-Cachet rocks back quickly to pull it away, but gets it from the bottom part of his bat. He only gets the height as it goes in the air towards deep mid-wicket, where Mohammad Nawaz settles under it and takes a good catch. Netherlands have slipped from 127/4 to 129/7.

Saim Ayub to Aryan Dutt, Flighted around off, Aryan Dutt rolls this through mid off for a single to get off the mark. 

The wheels are coming off at the backend of the innings for Netherlands. Out walks Aryan Dutt. 

Saim Ayub to Logan van Beek, OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal and Saim Ayub joins the party now. He floats it up, full and just on off, sticks to the surface a bit. Logan van Beek looks to push it away but goes through the shot a bit early. It hits him high on the bat and lobs up towards short cover, where Salman Agha takes a dolly. Logan walks back for a golden duck, and Netherlands are just losing their way.

Saim Ayub to Zach Lion-Cachet, Flighted, full and on middle, Zach Lion-Cachet lofts it down to long on for a single.

Logan van Beek is out with the bat in his hands for the Netherlands. 

Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, OUT! TAKEN! Abrar Ahmed gets his second, and this is a big wicket for Pakistan at a crucial time. Flighted delivery, full and on off, Scott Edwards goes down and across for the slog sweep but his bottom hand comes off as he plays the shot. He fails to get the elevation and the ball flies straight towards deep square leg, where Sahibzada Farhan settles under it and reverse cups it nicely. Edwards departs for a well-made 37 off 29, and the Dutch lose half their side now.

Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, Floated, full and around off, Scott Edwards drills it really hard but straight to extra cover.

Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, Flatter, short and outside off, Scott Edwards slashes hard at it. Gets an outside edge wide of short third for a couple of runs.

Abrar Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, Goes short and quick, on leg, Zach Lion-Cachet stays back and flicks it through square leg for a run.

Abrar Ahmed to Zach Lion-Cachet, A googly, full and on off, turns in sharply. Zach Lion-Cachet fends it off the inner half of the bat to the leg side.

Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, Tossed up, full and on middle, Scott Edwards eases it to long on for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, That was a risky sweep from Scott Edwards as Nawaz fired this in the line of the stumps. Scott Edwards shuffles across and sweeps this to fine leg for a single. 11 from the over and Netherlands will be aiming for at least another 50-60 runs in the last five overs. 

Mohammad Nawaz to Zach Lion-Cachet, Darted into the batter, around the leg-stump. Zach Lion-Cachet rocks back and milks this through mid-wicket for one.

Mohammad Nawaz to Zach Lion-Cachet, FOUR! Edged and away for four more. Flatter and quicker, wide of off, Zach Lion-Cachet stands his ground and slashes hard at it. Gets it edge and luckily for the batter, the ball goes straight through the gap between short third and backward point for four runs.