Green Shirts beat Netherland by three wickets in T20 World Cup opener

Colombo: Pakistan clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Netherlands in the opening match of the ICC T20 World Cup, thanks to a blistering late assault by Faheem Ashraf.

Chasing the target set by the Netherlands in Colombo, Pakistan opened their innings with Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub. However, Ayub was dismissed for 24 off 13 balls at a team total of 27, having struck four fours and a six.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha was then out for 12, falling to Aryan Dutt with the score on 53. Sahibzada Farhan made 46 before being dismissed, while Usman Khan was bowled for a duck — both falling in the same over to Paul van Meekeren. In the very next over, Bas de Leede (or van der Merwe?)* had Babar Azam caught.

Mohammad Nawaz scored 6 off 13 balls before getting out, while Shadab Khan managed 8 off 12 deliveries. With seven wickets down, Faheem Ashraf turned the game on its head with a whirlwind knock of 29 off just 9 balls, smashing three sixes and two fours to steer Pakistan to their first victory of the World Cup.

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

*If you want, I can double-check the exact bowler’s name in that over and fine-tune this part for perfect accuracy.