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Faheem Ashraf Powers Pakistan to Thrilling Win Over Netherlands
Faheem Ashraf’s explosive 29 off 11 balls sealed a dramatic 3-wicket win for Pakistan against the Netherlands in their ICC T20 World Cup opener in Colombo. What a finish!
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-07
Faheem Ashraf Powers Pakistan to Thrilling Win Over Netherlands

Pakistan kicked off their ICC T20 World Cup campaign with a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the opening match of the tournament, thanks to a sensational late-order assault by Faheem Ashraf in Colombo.

Chasing a modest but tricky target of 148, Pakistan suffered a series of setbacks as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub got Pakistan off to a brisk start, but Ayub was dismissed for 27 after scoring 24 runs off 13 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six.

Captain Salman Ali Agha was removed by Aryan Dutt for 12 with the score at 53. The innings then took a dramatic turn when Paul van Meekeren struck twice in the same over, dismissing Sahibzada Farhan for 46 and Usman Khan for a duck. In the following over, Babar Azam was also sent back, further tightening the Netherlands’ grip on the match.

Pakistan’s middle order continued to struggle as Mohammad Nawaz managed only six runs off 13 balls, while Shadab Khan was dismissed for eight. With seven wickets down and the target still out of reach, Pakistan appeared on the brink of defeat.

It was then that Faheem Ashraf turned the game on its head. Displaying fearless hitting, Faheem smashed 29 runs off just 11 deliveries, striking three sixes and two fours to guide Pakistan home in dramatic fashion and secure their first victory of the World Cup.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to field.

The Netherlands’ innings began steadily with openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd putting on 28 runs for the first wicket. O’Dowd was the first to depart, dismissed by Salman Mirza for five. Levitt followed soon after, scoring 24 before falling to Mohammad Nawaz.

Colin Ackerman contributed 20 runs, while Bas de Leede added a fighting 30 before becoming Nawaz’s second victim. Captain Scott Edwards top-scored for the Netherlands with 37 runs, providing stability in the middle order.

Pakistan’s bowlers staged an impressive comeback, especially at the death. The Dutch side, which looked set for a total between 160 and 170 at one stage, collapsed dramatically as they lost their final six wickets for just 20 runs and were bowled out for 147 in the final over.

Salman Mirza led the bowling attack with three wickets, while Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each. Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one dismissal.

The hard-fought win gives Pakistan an early boost in the tournament, while Faheem Ashraf’s late fireworks are likely to be remembered as one of the standout moments of the opening match.
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