Netherlands 147 all out (19.5 overs)

Scott Edwards 37 (29), Bas de Leede 30 (25); Salman Mirza 3-24

Pakistan 148-7 (19.3 overs)

Sahibzada Farhan 47 (31) Faheem Ashraf 29* (11); Paul Van Meekeren 2-20

Pakistan won by 3 wickets 

What looked like a famous opening-night victory slipped cruelly through the Netherlands’ fingers as Faheem Ashraf’s late assault sealed a dramatic Pakistan win in the opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo.

Defending 148 in overcast conditions that promised assistance for the quicks, the Dutch had Pakistan reeling and the asking rate soaring, only for a single dropped catch to turn the contest on its head. Ashraf, reprieved under pressure, made the Netherlands pay in full, smashing 29* from just 11 balls to break Dutch hearts and hand Pakistan a last-over escape.

Earlier, the Netherlands’ innings promised far more than its final total suggested. After months of build-up and what felt like an ever-lasting wait, the tournament began with Shaheen Afridi steaming in to bowl the first delivery. Michael Levitt answered the moment in style, dancing down the track and flicking a half-volley for four, starts don’t come much better than that.

An encore of boundaries off the first ball repeated in the second and the third over as Levitt began aggressively, he followed it up with first six of the tournament, taking 14 runs off the third over.

Netherlands just seemed to gain control before Pakistan found their way back. Salman Mirza forced a top edge from Max O’Dowd, the ball looping straight up before being safely taken by wicketkeeper Usman Khan.

The next over misery compounded for the Netherlands as Levitt 24 (15) lost his wicket due to a tag team effort from Babar Azam who kept the ball from going over the ropes and relaying it back to Afridi who secured the catch.

To stabilise the innings Bas de Leede strung up partnerships with Colin Ackermann 20 (14) and skipper Scott Edwards enroute his 30 before being picked up as Mohammad Nawaz’s second wicket. 

The game was evenly poised at the 16 overs mark with the score reading 127 for 4 and with Netherlands set for perfect launch in the final overs, it was Saim Ayub’s double wicket over that swung the momentum back to Pakistan. The lower-order couldn't drag Netherlands past the 150-mark, as the Dutch were bundled out for 147 in 19.5 overs, failing to deliver on the promise laid in the first half of the innings.

Pakistan came out with all guns blazing, with Ayub scoring a rapid 24 (13) before he attempted a no look shot and failed to clear the man at mid-on handing Aaryan Dutt the first wicket of the innings before taking his second in skipper Salman Ali Agha. 

The batters in green stood tall at 61-2 at the end of the powerplay. Sahibzada Farhan continued the onslaught before Paul van Meekeren dismissed him for 47 runs.

The dismissal opened the door for the Dutch to comeback as Van Meekeren continued to bowl superbly dismissing Usman for a duck as he went on to bowl a double wicket maiden, shifting the momentum once again

Roelof van der Merwe followed the double-wicket maiden perfectly. Adding to his two catches he sent Babar packing for 15 runs. 

The slide for Pakistan continued as Edwards snaffled to catches off Kyle Klein and Logan van Beek's bowling as the Netherlands bowlers continued to apply the pressure pushing the asking rate to 14.5 in the final two overs. With 29 required from the last two overs as the scales heavily favoured the Dutch. 

However, Ashraf, stood between the Dutch and victory. Began the penultimate over with a six before skying one, which was dropped by O’Dowd under pressure, a dropped that cost Netherlands a victory that seemed well and truly in their hands. Ashraf went on to hack a couple of sixes that set up the final over with only five runs needed.

Ashraf finished the game with a boundary scoring 29* from 11 balls.