Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Match Overview
Welcome to the complete pakistan national cricket team vs netherlands national cricket team match scorecard for the highly anticipated opening clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. This crucial Group A encounter took place on February 7, 2026, at the iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Agha made the bold decision to elect to field first, looking to exploit the early morning conditions. The Netherlands batted first and managed to post a fighting total of 147 runs for the loss of all 10 wickets in their allotted 19.5 overs. In response, Pakistan faced a few nervous moments during their run chase but ultimately crossed the finish line with authority. They reached the target of 148 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 19.3 overs, securing a thrilling victory by 3 wickets with 3 balls remaining.
For his match-winning, explosive cameo with the bat in the death overs, Pakistan’s all-rounder Faheem Ashraf was named the Player of the Match. His quickfire 29 not out completely turned the game on its head, ensuring Pakistan started their T20 World Cup campaign with a vital win.
Detailed Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Tables
Below is the detailed breakdown of the batting and bowling performances for both sides during this exciting cricket match.
Netherlands Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Levitt | c Shaheen Shah Afridi b Mohammad Nawaz | 24 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 160.00 |
| Max O’Dowd | c †Usman Khan b Salman Mirza | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 71.42 |
| Bas de Leede | c Babar Azam b Mohammad Nawaz | 30 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Colin Ackermann | b Abrar Ahmed | 20 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 142.85 |
| Scott Edwards (c)† | c Sahibzada Farhan b Abrar Ahmed | 37 | 29 | 3 | 1 | 127.58 |
| Zach Lion-Cachet | c Mohammad Nawaz b Saim Ayub | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 |
| Logan van Beek | c Salman Agha b Saim Ayub | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Aryan Dutt | c Sahibzada Farhan b Salman Mirza | 13 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 162.50 |
| Roelof van der Merwe | c Salman Agha b Shaheen Shah Afridi | 4 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
| Kyle Klein | not out | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Paul van Meekeren | c †Usman Khan b Salman Mirza | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 3 | |||||
| Total | 147/10 | 19.5 |
Pakistan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Salman Mirza | 3.5 | 0 | 24 | 3 | 6.26 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 9.50 |
| Shadab Khan | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 6.50 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 | 5.75 |
| Saim Ayub | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7.00 |
Pakistan Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sahibzada Farhan | c van der Merwe b van Meekeren | 47 | 31 | 4 | 2 | 151.61 |
| Saim Ayub | c van der Merwe b Dutt | 24 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 184.61 |
| Salman Agha (c) | c Levitt b Dutt | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Babar Azam | c Klein b van der Merwe | 15 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Usman Khan † | b van Meekeren | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Shadab Khan | c †Edwards b van Beek | 8 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 66.66 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | c †Edwards b Klein | 6 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 46.15 |
| Faheem Ashraf | not out | 29 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 263.63 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | not out | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.55 |
| Extras | 2 | |||||
| Total | 148/7 | 19.3 |
(Did not bat: Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed)
Netherlands Bowling Figures
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aryan Dutt | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 |
| Logan van Beek | 4 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 11.50 |
| Kyle Klein | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.66 |
| Roelof van der Merwe | 3 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 4.33 |
| Paul van Meekeren | 4 | 1 | 20 | 2 | 5.00 |
| Bas de Leede | 1.3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 8.66 |
Pakistan National Cricket Team vs Netherlands National Cricket Team Match Scorecard: Key Highlights & Match Analysis
The opening match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 delivered a classic thriller as Pakistan successfully chased down a competitive target against the Netherlands. Opting to bowl first on a lively surface at the Sinhalese Sports Club, Pakistan’s bowlers executed their plans brilliantly. Salman Mirza was the star of the innings with exceptional figures of 3/24, providing the crucial breakthroughs in the powerplay and middle overs.
He was ably supported by the spin duo of Abrar Ahmed (2/23) and Mohammad Nawaz (2/38), who kept the Dutch batters on a tight leash. The Netherlands innings was anchored by a gritty 37 from captain Scott Edwards and a useful 30 from Bas de Leede, but regular wickets prevented them from posting a formidable total.
When Pakistan took to the crease in pursuit of 148, the innings started with a bang. Sahibzada Farhan played a masterful knock of 47 runs off 31 balls, combining elegant stroke play with calculated aggression. He was well-supported by Saim Ayub, whose explosive 24 off just 13 balls set a rapid tempo. However, the cricket match took a dramatic turn when Pakistan suffered a sudden middle-order collapse. From a commanding position, they lost wickets in clusters, slipping to 114/7 and suddenly needing 34 runs from the final 18 balls.
The turning point of the match arrived in the form of Faheem Ashraf. Walking in at a pressure-cooker situation, Ashraf played one of the most destructive T20 innings of the year. He smashed an unbeaten 29 runs off a mere 11 balls, including three towering sixes and two boundaries. His brutal assault on the Dutch bowling attack, particularly a 24-run over that completely shifted the momentum, sealed the deal for Pakistan with three balls to spare.
Ashraf’s explosive strike rate of 263.63 was the difference-maker, earning him a thoroughly deserved Player of the Match award. This victory not only gave Pakistan a perfect start to their series but also reinforced their absolute dominance in this fixture, maintaining their 100% winning record against the Netherlands in T20 Internationals.
Head-to-Head Record
| Format | Matches | Pakistan Wins | Netherlands Wins | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T20I | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| ODI | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Who won the match? A: Pakistan won the match against the Netherlands by 3 wickets in the opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Q: Who was Player of the Match? A: Pakistan’s all-rounder Faheem Ashraf was named Player of the Match for his match-winning, unbeaten cameo of 29 runs off just 11 balls.
Q: What was the match result? A: Netherlands scored 147 all out in 19.5 overs, and Pakistan chased down the target of 148 runs, finishing at 148/7 in 19.3 overs to win by 3 wickets with 3 balls remaining.
Q: When and where was the match played? A: The match was played on February 7, 2026, at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Q: What is the current series score? A: This was the first match of Group A in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, so Pakistan leads the early standings in the group with this crucial victory.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Pakistan started their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a thrilling 3-wicket victory over the Netherlands. Despite a mid-innings collapse that left them needing 34 runs from the final 18 balls, Faheem Ashraf’s explosive finish ensured they chased down the target of 148 comfortably. This comprehensive pakistan national cricket team vs netherlands national cricket team match scorecard highlights the resilience of the Pakistani squad under pressure. Pakistan will look to carry this momentum into their next Group A fixture, while the Netherlands will need to regroup quickly and address their batting fragility to bounce back in the tournament.
