Sat Feb 07 08:10:00 UTC 2026: ### Pakistan Snatch Victory Against Netherlands in Thrilling Opener of 2026 T20 World Cup
The Story:
Pakistan secured a nail-biting 3-wicket victory against the Netherlands in the opening match of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The match, held on February 7, 2026, at the Singhalese Sports Club in Colombo, saw Pakistan chase down a target of 148 runs, reaching the mark on the third ball of the final over. The game appeared to be slipping away from Pakistan, needing 29 runs from the last two overs, but a game-changing 19th over, where Faheem Ashraf scored 24 runs against Logan van Beek, turned the tide in Pakistan’s favor.
Key Points:
* The match took place on February 7, 2026, at the Singhalese Sports Club, Colombo.
* Pakistan defeated the Netherlands by 3 wickets in the opening match of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
* Pakistan chased a target of 148 runs.
* Faheem Ashraf’s explosive hitting in the 19th over, scoring 24 runs, proved decisive.
* Max O’Dowd dropped a crucial catch off Faheem Ashraf in the 19th over, costing the Netherlands dearly.
* Faheem Ashraf scored an unbeaten 29 runs off 11 balls.
* The 29 runs scored in the last two overs by Pakistan are the most they have scored in a successful T20 International run chase.
Key Takeaways:
- Momentum shifts are critical in T20 cricket, as demonstrated by Faheem Ashraf’s pivotal over.
- Catches win matches, and Max O’Dowd’s dropped catch proved to be a turning point.
- Pakistan showed resilience in a pressure situation, highlighting their experience in close finishes.
First Piper 