COLOMBO: Faheem Ashraf justified his selection as a lower-order hard-hitting batter when he pulled Pakistan from the jaws of defeat in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener against the Netherlands in a Group A match at the Sinhalese Sports Club here on Saturday.

Faheem clobbered two fours and three sixes in an 11-ball 29 not out as Pakistan achieved the 148-run target with three wickets and three balls to spare. Pakistan were cruising at 98 for two in 11 overs before they slipped to 114 for seven in 16.1 overs and later needed 29 runs in the final two overs.

Faheem, who was dropped when on seven, slapped three sixes and a four in the penultimate over. By hitting the winning boundary on the third delivery of the final over, Faheem ensured Pakistan avoided a repeat of their 2024 campaign, where a loss to the United States in the opening match led to a first-round exit.

His “great escape” innings earned him the player of the match award and kept Pakistan’s Super Eight hopes alive ahead of their upcoming fixtures against the USA and Namibia on 10 and 18 February, respectively. Pakistan has already announced they will forfeit its 15 February match against India.

Pakistan’s top three batters clobbered 11 fours and three sixes in 52 balls between them to provide the 2009 champions a flying start before a sensational collapse saw them lose five wickets for 16 runs in five overs.

Paul van Meekeren gave the Dutch hope when he dismissed Sahibzada Farhan and Usman Khan in a double-wicket maiden. Left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe then accounted for Babar Azam, before Kyle Klein removed Mohammad Nawaz and Logan van Beek accounted for Shadab Khan as Pakistan suddenly looked down the barrel.

However, Faheem Ashraf brought into play all his 80-T20I experience to mastermind one of the greatest escapes in the tournament’s history. A defeat here would have all but ended Pakistan’s chances; as of 7 February, the stakes are high as the upcoming matches against the USA on 10 February and Namibia on 18 February are now must-wins to ensure progression to the Super Eight stage.

Sahibzada Farhan played in his typical positive and fearless style, belting four fours and two sixes in a 31-ball 47, while Saim Ayub struck four fours and a six in a 13-ball 24 before a needless big shot brought his demise. Salman Ali Agha also looked flawless in his 8-ball 12 with three fours before he tried one shot too many and was caught at extra-cover off off-spinner Aryan Dutt.

Earlier, the Netherlands, put into bat, succumbed to Pakistan’s athletic fielding and intelligent bowling, being dismissed for 147 in 19.5 overs after being 105 for three in the 13th over. Wicketkeeper Usman Khan and Babar Azam set the tone for Pakistan’s exceptional fielding. Usman ran almost 35 meters to dismiss opener Max O’Dowd off Salman Mirza, and Babar kept the ball in play despite crossing the boundary in momentum for Shaheen Shah Afridi to complete Michael Levitt’s catch off Mohammad Nawaz.

Salman Mirza returned in the death overs to finish as the pick of the bowlers with three for 24, but it was the spin quartet of Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shadab Khan who shared six wickets between them in 13 overs, conceding 94 runs. Saim bowled only one over, the 17th of the Dutch innings, grabbing two wickets while giving away seven runs. Abrar picked up two wickets for 23 runs and Nawaz finished with two for 38. Shadab Khan went wicketless, but his four overs cost only 26 runs.

Although the bowling changes worked for Salman Ali Agha, eyebrows were raised regarding his tactical decision to neither turn his own arm over nor bowl all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

The Netherlands were off to a quick start, reaching 50 for two in the PowerPlay. They reached 79 for three at the halfway stage and 94 for three in 12 overs before Pakistan’s spinners picked up wickets at regular intervals to suffocate the Dutch, who managed only 53 runs in the last eight overs and lost seven wickets.

Captain Scott Edwards top-scored with 37 from 29 balls with three fours and a six, while Bas de Leede struck four fours in a 25-ball 30. Michael Levitt, who was severe on Shaheen Shah Afridi at the top of the order, scored 24 from 15 balls with three fours and a six.

Pakistan will play their second match against the USA on 10 February, also at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Group A – Pakistan beat the Netherlands by three wickets.

Netherlands 147 all-out, 19.5 overs (Scott Edwards 37, Bas de Leede 30, Michael Levitt 24, Colin Ackermann 20; Salman Mirza 3-24, Saim Ayub 2-7, Abrar Ahmed 2-23, Mohammad Nawaz 2-38)

Pakistan 148-7 19.3 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 47, Faheem Ashraf 29 not out, Saim Ayub 24, Babar Azam 15, Salman Ali Agha 12, Paul van Meekeren 2-20, Aryan Dutt 2-33)

Player of the match – Faheem Ashraf