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- Pakistan vs Netherlands highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Faheem Ashraf unleashes sixes as Pakistan beat Netherlands by 3 wickets in Colombo
Pakistan vs Netherlands highlights, T20 World Cup 2026: Faheem Ashraf unleashes sixes as Pakistan beat Netherlands by 3 wickets in Colombo
Asked to bat, the Netherlands made a promising start but lost momentum in the latter half of their innings to be bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Michael Levitt set the tone early with a brisk 24 off 15 balls, while Bas de Leede (30) and Scott Edwards (37) provided stability through the middle overs. However, Pakistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent the Dutch from accelerating at the death.
Salman Mirza was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 24, while Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with two wickets apiece. Saim Ayub’s surprise spell also proved effective, as Pakistan ensured the Netherlands never truly broke free after posting 50 in the Powerplay.
In response, Pakistan raced out of the blocks through Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan. Ayub’s 24 off 13 and Farhan’s fluent 47 off 31 had Pakistan cruising at 98 for 2, firmly in control of the chase. But what followed was a familiar wobble. Paul van Meekeren produced a sensational double-wicket maiden, removing Farhan and Usman Khan, before Roelof van der Merwe dismissed Babar Azam to leave Pakistan reeling.
The middle order struggled to regain momentum as Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz fell in quick succession, tilting the match decisively towards the Netherlands. With pressure mounting and the asking rate climbing, Faheem Ashraf took matters into his own hands.
In the 19th over, Ashraf launched Logan van Beek for three sixes and a four in a breathtaking assault that turned the game on its head. A dropped catch only added to the drama as the all-rounder powered Pakistan to the brink. He finished unbeaten on 29 off just 11 balls, earning the Player of the Match award.
Despite standout bowling efforts from van Meekeren (2/20) and Aryan Dutt (2/33), the Netherlands fell just short. Pakistan, bruised but victorious, walked away with two crucial points to start their World Cup journey.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Full and on the pads, Scott Edwards steps across and sweeps this to deep backward square leg for a single.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Fired around off, Scott Edwards punches this to extra cover for no run.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, FOUR! A bit of width on offer and Scott makes him pay. Quicker one, wide outside off, Scott Edwards hangs deep inside the crease and slashes hard at it. Cuts this past the left of a diving fielder at cover-point and the ball races away to the fence for four.
DRINKS! Pakistan have pulled things back a bit in the last few overs, and they will look to build on this now. However, Netherlands will not back down as well, as they have taken the attacking approach right from the start. Despite losing wickets, the batters have tried to play their shots and will look to do more of the same, as anything over 160 on this wicket will be a good score. We are in for some exciting action in the next 6 overs.
- Scott Edwards 28 (21)
- Zach Lion-Cachet 2 (2)
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Fired into the batter, around middle and off, Scott Edwards tucks this through mid-wicket and settles for a run this time.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Floated into the batter, around middle and leg, Scott Edwards milks this gently through mid-wicket for a brace.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Quicker one, around off, Scott drives this to the left of Mohammad Nawaz at cover-point and he does well to stop a strike rotation with a dive to his left.
Shadab Khan to Zach Lion-Cachet, Tossed up, around off, Zach Lion-Cachet moves away from the stumps and chips this to long off for one.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Floated around off, Scott Edwards guides this to short third for a run.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, DROPPED! Full and on off, Scott Edwards pumps this hard and straight back to the bowler. Shadab Khan stretches out his right hand but fails to hold on to it.
- Scott Edwards 24 (16)
- Zach Lion-Cachet 1 (1)
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Quicker one, around the pads, Scott Edwards gets inside the line and tucks this through the backward square leg region for one.
Mohammad Nawaz to Zach Lion-Cachet, Darted around the pads, Zach Lion-Cachet flicks this through mid on for a strike rotation.
Just as the partnership was brewing, Pakistan get the breakthrough. Zach Lion-Cachet walks out to bat now.
Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, OUT! CAUGHT! Nawaz has the last laugh in this over. Under-cutter, around off, Bas de Leede moves away from his stumps and has a go at it. Doesn't get the elevation he was looking for and ends up hitting this straight into the hands of Babar Azam at the long off fence. Bas de Leede departs for 30 off 25 balls.
Inngs: 10
Runs: 85
Balls: 79
Dismissals: 6
Avg: 14.16
SR: 107.6
Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, FOUR! Another boundary and it is already 11 off this Nawaz over with three balls still to go. Floated around off, Bas de Leede quickly hops deep inside the crease and punches this in the gap to the left of the fielder at sweeper cover for a boundary.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Pushed through around off, Scott Edwards rocks deep inside the crease and cuts this to deep point for a single.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, SIX! The ball is flying! Tossed up, full and on middle. Scott Edwards sits down on one knee and powerfully slog sweeps it well over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie. 100 UP FOR NETHERLANDS!
- Scott Edwards 16 (13)
- Bas de Leede 26 (23)
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Quicker and flatter on off, Scott Edwards hits this to the long on region for a run.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Pushed through around off, Scott Edwards aims to heave at it but misses out.
Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Tossed up, around off, Bas de Leede slogs this to the deep mid-wicket region for a single.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, In the air... safe! Flighted around off, Scott Edwards looks to sit down on a knee and swing at it, gets it edged towards the left of the keeper around square leg. Usman Khan calls for it once again but fails to get close to the ball this time around. Single taken.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Another mishap in the field and the Netherlands convert one into two. Quicker one, wide of off, Scott Edwards gets it away off the inside of his bat towards covers and takes a run. The throw comes in at the non-striker's end and a poor backup gifts an extra run to the Dutch side.
Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Seam up, straight on, on off. Bas de Leede thumps this past the bowler to his right for one.
- Bas de Leede 24 (21)
- Scott Edwards 12 (9)
Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, Full and wide of off, Bas de Leede goes deep inside the crease and smashes this to sweeper cover for a single.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Tossed up, full and around leg, Scott Edwards plays the sweep again and on the bounce to deep square leg for one.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, FOUR! Excellent shot! Floated delivery, full and on middle and leg. Scott Edwards goes down on one knee and sweeps it hard and flat. There is a fielder at deep square not too far away, but he has no chance of stopping that from going to the boundary.
Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, Drops it short and around off, Bas de Leede backs away and punches it through covers for another run.
Mohammad Nawaz to Scott Edwards, Flatter, full and on the pads, Scott Edwards goes down and swipes it to deep square leg for a run.
Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede, Flighted, full and around off, Bas de Leede reaches out and drives it to sweeper cover for a single.
- Bas de Leede 21 (18)
- Scott Edwards 6 (6)
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, Another short delivery, on middle, Bas de Leede stays back and works it through mid-wicket for on more.
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, Quicker delivery, fuller and outside off, but just inside the guideline. Bas de Leede leaves it alone.
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, FOUR! Up and over! Abrar Ahmed sticks to the shorter length, but just around off. Bas de Leede rocks back, extends his arms and slaps it aerailly but well over extra cover for a boundary.
Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, Goes short and on middle, Scott Edwards punches it to long on for a run.
Abrar Ahmed to Scott Edwards, Tossed up, full and on middle, Scott Edwards knocks it down the pitch.
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, Flatter, shortish and on middle, Bas de Leede heaves it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.
- Bas de Leede 15 (14)
- Scott Edwards 5 (4)
Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Tossed up, around off, Bas de Leede drives this through covers for a run.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Full and on off, Scott plays the reverse sweep and hits this to Mirza at short third who fumbles again and allows a single more.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Pushed through on off, Scott Edwards punches this bck to the bowler.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, FOUR! A misfield from Salman Mirza at short third and what should have been a risky single turns into a boundary for the Netherlands. Full and around off, Scott Edwards pushes at it with hard hands, gets it edged to short third. Salman Mirza runs in aggressively and takes his eyes off before picking the ball and it rolls past him for a boundary towards the third man region.
Shadab Khan to Scott Edwards, Full and on off, Scott Edwards punches this back to the bowler.
Shadab Khan to Bas de Leede, Flighted on off, Bas de Leede drives this to sweeper cover for a single.
Outwalks the skipper of Netherlands, Scott Edwards to replace Colin Ackermann.
- Colin Ackermann 20 (14)
- Bas de Leede 13 (12)
Abrar Ahmed to Colin Ackermann, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Abrar Ahmed strikes in his first over. He pushes this through quicker, short and on middle and off. Colin Ackermann neither goes forward nor on the back foot and just tries to play a lazy flick shot. He ends up getting an inside edge back onto the stumps. He is very disappointed with himself, but has to walk back for 20 off 14. The Netherlands are three down now.
Abrar Ahmed to Colin Ackermann, FOUR! Nicely done! Abrar Ahmed follows the batter, bowls this quick and short, on leg. Colin Ackermann picks it up nicely and slogs it to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.
Abrar Ahmed to Colin Ackermann, A big shout for LBW, but turned down! Flatter, shortish and on middle and off, Colin Ackermann stays back to play it but misses and gets hit on the pads. Probably going over the stumps.
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, Tossed up, full and on middle, Bas de Leede uses his feet and drills it to long on for another run.
Abrar Ahmed to Colin Ackermann, Slower through the air, full and on middle, turns away a bit. Colin Ackermann looks to work it across the line but gets squared up. It goes off the leading edge towards point for a run.
Abrar Ahmed to Bas de Leede, Floated, short and on middle, turns in, Bas de Leede stays back and nudges it through mid-wicket for a single.
Asked to bat, the Netherlands made a promising start but lost momentum in the latter half of their innings to be bowled out for 147 in 19.5 overs. Michael Levitt set the tone early with a brisk 24 off 15 balls, while Bas de Leede (30) and Scott Edwards (37) provided stability through the middle overs. However, Pakistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to prevent the Dutch from accelerating at the death.
Salman Mirza was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 24, while Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with two wickets apiece. Saim Ayub’s surprise spell also proved effective, as Pakistan ensured the Netherlands never truly broke free after posting 50 in the Powerplay.
In response, Pakistan raced out of the blocks through Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan. Ayub’s 24 off 13 and Farhan’s fluent 47 off 31 had Pakistan cruising at 98 for 2, firmly in control of the chase. But what followed was a familiar wobble. Paul van Meekeren produced a sensational double-wicket maiden, removing Farhan and Usman Khan, before Roelof van der Merwe dismissed Babar Azam to leave Pakistan reeling.
The middle order struggled to regain momentum as Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz fell in quick succession, tilting the match decisively towards the Netherlands. With pressure mounting and the asking rate climbing, Faheem Ashraf took matters into his own hands.
In the 19th over, Ashraf launched Logan van Beek for three sixes and a four in a breathtaking assault that turned the game on its head. A dropped catch only added to the drama as the all-rounder powered Pakistan to the brink. He finished unbeaten on 29 off just 11 balls, earning the Player of the Match award.
Despite standout bowling efforts from van Meekeren (2/20) and Aryan Dutt (2/33), the Netherlands fell just short. Pakistan, bruised but victorious, walked away with two crucial points to start their World Cup journey.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo
