Colombo erupted in cheers as Pakistan snatched a dramatic 3-wicket victory over Netherlands in their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign opener at Sinhalese Sports Club on Saturday. Chasing 148, the Men in Green were on the brink of defeat before a resilient last-over heroics sealed the deal.
Netherlands, put in to bat after losing the toss, started aggressively with openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Doud forging a quick 28-run stand in just 3.1 overs. O’Doud fell for 5 off 7 balls, but Levitt smashed 24 off 15, including a six and three fours, before Pakistan’s bowlers struck back.
By 31 runs, both openers were back in the hut. Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann steadied the ship with a 34-run partnership off 22 balls. Ackermann made 20, but de Leede (30) and skipper Scott Edwards (37 off 29, with four boundaries) pushed the score to 147 all out in 19.5 overs.
Salman Mirza led Pakistan’s attack with 3 wickets, supported by Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub with two each. Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one.
Pakistan’s chase began disastrously, losing Saim Ayub (24 off 13) at 27 and captain Salman Agha (12) soon after. At 53/2, Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam added 45 off 38 balls, with Farhan’s fiery 47 (31 balls, 2 sixes, 4 fours) lifting them to 98.
But wickets tumbled, slumping to 114/7. Fahim Ashraf (29*) and Shaheen Afridi (5*) then scripted history, adding 34 off 20 balls. Needing 29 off the last two overs, Ashraf survived a dropped catch at 18.2 and powered Pakistan home in 19.3 overs.
Aryan Dutt and Paul van Meekeren took 2 wickets each for Netherlands, with Logan van Beek, Kyle Klein, and Roelof van der Merwe claiming one apiece. This edge-of-the-seat win sets Pakistan on a high note for the tournament.