Chief scores: Netherlands: 147 all out in 19.5 overs (Scott Edwards 37 (29), Bas de Leede 30 (25), Michael Levitt 24 (15): Salman Mirza 3/24, Abrar Ahmed 2/23, Saim Ayub 2/7)
Pakistan: 148/7 in (Sahibzada Farhan 47 (31), Faheem Ashraf 29* (11), Saim Ayub 24 (13)
Paul van Meekeren 2/20, Aryan Dutt 2/33)
Pakistan were forced to dig deep before edging past a spirited Netherlands side by three wickets with three balls to spare in a tense ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo, on Saturday. A breathtaking late assault from Faheem Ashraf proved decisive after Pakistan appeared to have let a comfortable chase slip dangerously out of control.
Chasing a modest target of 148, Pakistan made a flying start through Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, who took full advantage of the powerplay. The pair raced to 61 inside the first six overs, with Farhan striking fluently through the off side while Ayub played with fearless intent. Ayub’s brisk 24 off 13 balls ended when he picked out Roelof van der Merwe, but Pakistan were firmly in command at that stage.
The innings, however, unravelled alarmingly through the middle overs. Salman Agha fell cheaply, and when Farhan departed for a well-made 47 off 31 balls, the momentum shifted decisively. The Netherlands bowlers, led by Paul van Meekeren and Aryan Dutt, tightened their lines superbly, exploiting the grip available for the spinners. Babar Azam struggled to find fluency and was dismissed for 15, while Usman Khan and Shadab Khan followed in quick succession as Pakistan slipped from 98 for 3 to 114 for 7.
With 29 required off the final two overs, the pressure was firmly on Pakistan. Faheem Ashraf then produced a stunning counter-attack that turned the contest on its head. Facing Logan van Beek in the 19th over, Ashraf launched three towering sixes and struck two boundaries in a brutal assault that yielded 24 runs. His unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls transformed the equation, leaving Pakistan needing only five from the final over, which they completed with three deliveries remaining. Ashraf’s composure and power under pressure earned him the Player of the Match award.
Earlier, the Netherlands posted 147 after being sent in, a total that looked competitive but ultimately fell just short. They began confidently, reaching 50 inside the powerplay despite losing both openers. Michael Levitt made 24 from 15 balls, while Max O’Dowd was dismissed early. Bas de Leede and Scott Edwards anchored the innings, adding stability through the middle overs, with Edwards top-scoring with 37 off 29 balls.
However, a middle-order collapse hurt the Netherlands badly. Abrar Ahmed struck twice to remove Edwards and Colin Ackermann, while Saim Ayub chipped in with two wickets of his own. Salman Mirza was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three for 24, as the Netherlands lost momentum and were bowled out with a ball to spare.
Despite the defeat, the Netherlands pushed Pakistan to the brink with a disciplined bowling performance. Pakistan, however, escaped with a vital two points, thanks largely to Faheem Ashraf’s late heroics, in a reminder that even favourites can be made to sweat on the World Cup stage.
