Pakistan dodge upset at T20 World Cup after jittery win over Netherlands

Colombo — Pakistan’s pursuit of 148 against the Netherlands veered alarmingly close to calamity before Faheem Ashraf’s late-innings assault hauled the 2009 champions over the line for a three-wicket victory that opens their T20 World Cup account.

Set what appeared a modest target, Salman Ali Agha’s side cruised to 98-2, only to unravel in a clatter of wickets that left them teetering at 114-7. With 29 required from the final two overs and Dutch tails up, Logan van Beek was entrusted with the 19th. Faheem greeted him with a sequence that will haunt the seamer: three clean sixes and a carved four, the sequence punctuated by a life when Max O’Dowd shelled a straightforward chance at long-off. Twenty-four came from the over; the equation shrank to five off six.

Bas de Leede’s last over began with a dot, but Faheem sealed the contest in the third legal delivery, lacing a drive through cover for the boundary that ignited Pakistan celebrations and averted what would have been one of the competition’s most stunning upsets.

Earlier, Pakistan’s attack had done its part. Left-arm quick Salman Mirza led the way with 3-24, while spinners Saim Ayub (2-7), Abrar Ahmed (2-23) and Mohammad Nawaz (2-38) shared six wickets as Netherlands were restricted to 147 all out in 19.5 overs. A relay catch on the rope—Shaheen Shah Afridi to Babar Azam—removed the dangerous Michael Levitt for 24, and a late slide of 6-20 undid skipper Scott Edwards’ enterprising 37 off 29.

The win is critical: Pakistan have boycotted their scheduled February 15 meeting with India amid the ongoing fallout from Bangladesh’s expulsion, leaving only three Group A fixtures to secure a Super 8 berth. Next up is USA on Tuesday—a side that defeated them via Super Over at the 2024 event—followed by Namibia on Wednesday.

Netherlands, who have previous scalps of England and South Africa at T20 World Cups, will look to regroup against Namibia in Delhi on Tuesday.

Watch the Men’s T20 World Cup live on Sky Sports from February 7 to March 8.