In what turned out to be a humdinger of an encounter, Pakistan reigned supreme over the Netherlands within the season opener of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the Sinhalese Sports activities Membership Floor in Colombo on Saturday, February 7. The last-over thriller finally went Pakistan’s method, as they chased down the 148-run goal with three wickets and three balls to spare.
The Males in Inexperienced skipper Salman Ali Agha appeared to be delighted with the way in which his staff pulled issues again on the proper time. Agha additionally heaped large reward on Faheem Ashraf, who performed a thunderous cameo of 29* off simply 11 deliveries, the place his blitz within the penultimate over to Logan van Beek in the end obtained Pakistan off to a successful begin.
„We’ve got to do it the onerous method. Credit score to Faheem Ashraf. We tried nicely and knew they’d come onerous. Held issues rather well. 147 we would tackle this pitch. Spinners have finished nicely within the final six months. Within the first ten overs we batted nicely, then the 2 wickets fell and strain got here in. We have to take up higher.
„Circumstances – Not straightforward to begin; as soon as we get in, it will get simpler. As soon as a batter will get set, they should end the sport; they did not try this at present. Wish to change that,“ Agha stated on the post-match presentation.
Scott Edwards, the Dutch captain, was clearly dejected after not being on the successful facet in a carefully fought contest. Nonetheless, he gave the bowlers a phrase of appreciation for bringing the sport fairly shut. He believes that the facet was in the end a number of runs brief whereas setting the goal; in any other case, the consequence may have been loads totally different.
„We weren’t at our greatest. Credit score to the boys for preventing. Small moments can come on to harm you. We saved shedding wickets at vital occasions. We felt 160 was going to provide us a good probability. We needed to bowl nicely to provide us an opportunity. A few good performances from the bowlers saved us within the recreation. It is a good wicket, Pakistan obtained it all the way down to run a ball, then we obtained a maiden and the boys jumped on the momentum,“ Edwards stated after the match.
Pakistan will subsequent face the USA of America in Colombo on February 12. On the identical date, the Netherlands will face off in opposition to Namibia in a Group A encounter on the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
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