Pakistan edges Netherlands in nail-biting T20 World Cup opener

Pakistan Defeat Netherlands by Three Wickets in 2026 T20 World Cup Opener

In their Group A match at the Twenty20 World Cup, Pakistan secured a three-wicket victory over the Netherlands with just three balls to spare on Saturday. The Dutch side was bowled out for 147 runs in 19 overs, leaving them with a challenging target.

The Netherlands’ innings began strongly, reaching 100 in the 13th over before losing momentum in the death overs. They lost six wickets for just 20 runs in 24 balls, with Bas de Leede (30), Colin Ackermann (20), and captain Scott Edwards (37) making notable contributions.

Pakistan’s bowlers restricted the Netherlands to a below-par total, with spinner Saim Ayub claiming two wickets and Mirza striking twice. The Dutch team then produced a spirited effort with the ball, but ultimately dropped Faheem Ashraf, who went on to score 29 not out off 11 balls to seal Pakistan’s victory.

Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled initially, with Babar Azam departing after an 18-ball 15. However, Faheem’s cameo proved decisive, as he hit Logan van Beek for a six and skied the next ball, which was dropped by Max O’Dowd at long-off, allowing Faheem to score the winning four.

The match marked an important step in Pakistan’s bid to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the tournament.

Source: Al Jazeera