Pakistan cricket team pulled off a thrilling victory against the Netherlands in a gripping T20 International, thanks to a sensational late innings by Faheem Ashraf. The match kept fans on the edge of their seats, with the Men in Green crossing the finish line in the final over to secure a memorable win.
Steady Start and Middle Overs Pressure
Chasing a target of 148, Pakistan reached 147 for seven in 19.3 overs. The middle overs saw sustained pressure from the Netherlands’ bowlers, briefly slowing down Pakistan’s chase.
Openers Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan gave Pakistan a confident start. Ayub scored a brisk 24 off 13 balls, hitting four fours and a six, before being dismissed by off-spinner Aryan Dutt. Farhan then partnered with captain Salman Ali Agha to keep the run rate under control, putting on a 50-run partnership by the fifth over. Dutt struck again to remove Agha for 12 runs off eight balls, leaving Pakistan at 53/2 inside five overs.
Despite the wickets, Farhan anchored the innings and maintained composure while Babar Azam took his time to settle. He eventually found his rhythm and looked set for his ninth T20I half-century, scoring 47 off 31 balls, including four fours and two sixes.
His wicket, taken by Roelof van der Merwe, reduced Pakistan to 98/3, and van der Merwe immediately removed Usman Khan for a two-ball duck, increasing the pressure on Pakistan.
Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi Steer Pakistan Home
Pakistan’s chase stalled in the middle overs, as another middle-order batter managed only 15 runs off 18 balls, allowing the Netherlands to build momentum. In the final five overs, wickets continued to fall cheaply, with Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan dismissed by Kyle Klein and Logan van Beek, leaving the match finely poised.
Pakistan National Cricket Team Arrives in Sri Lanka for ICC T20 World Cup
With the required run rate climbing, Faheem Ashraf and Shaheen Shah Afridi showed calm and composure. Ashraf changed the momentum dramatically with a flurry of boundaries. In the 19th over, he smashed Logan van Beek for 22 runs, putting Pakistan in a strong position.
Faheem remained unbeaten on 29 off 11 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. Pakistan sealed the thrilling win in the final over, showcasing resilience and finishing strength in T20 cricket.
Bowling Performance Lays the Foundation
Pakistan’s bowlers had earlier restricted the Netherlands to 147 runs. Openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd started positively, with Levitt particularly aggressive during the powerplay. Pakistan struck in the fourth over when Salman Mirza dismissed O’Dowd for five, with Usman Khan completing the catch.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz removed Levitt for 24 off 15 balls, assisted by a brilliant fielding relay from Babar Azam to Saim Ayub near the boundary.
Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann steadied the Netherlands’ innings, taking them past 50 in the powerplay, before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Ackermann for 20, leaving the visitors at 65/3. The Netherlands reached 100 in the 13th over, but Nawaz removed de Leede for 30, while Abrar also dismissed captain Scott Edwards for a crucial 37.
Saim Ayub then claimed two wickets in an over, removing Logan van Beek and Zach Lion-Cachet, before Shaheen Shah Afridi and Salman Mirza wrapped up the innings. Mirza finished with 3/24, while Nawaz, Abrar, and Ayub took two wickets each.
Conclusion
Pakistan’s victory highlighted both their batting depth and bowling strength. Faheem Ashraf’s late cameo and the team’s collective effort under pressure underlined their resilience in T20 cricket. The win was a testament to Pakistan’s ability to perform in tight situations, offering fans a memorable and edge-of-the-seat match.
