Pakistan Wins Thrilling Opening Match Against Netherlands by 3 Wickets

Kathmandu: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 started with an exciting game today. In the first match of Group A, played at the SSC ground in Colombo, Pakistan defeated the Netherlands by 3 wickets in a very close finish.

Netherlands Sets a Target of 147

The Netherlands batted first but had a mixed performance. They started with high energy as opener Michael Levitt scored a quick 24 runs off just 15 balls. However, the team kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Captain Scott Edwards was the top scorer for his team. He played a responsible inning, scoring 37 runs from 29 balls. Bas de Leede also contributed well with 30 runs, and Colin Ackermann added 20 runs.

Despite these efforts, the Netherlands could not reach a massive score. Their batting lineup struggled against Pakistan’s bowling attack towards the end of the innings. The team lost their last few wickets quickly, collapsing from 128 for 6 to be all out for 147 runs in 19.5 overs.

Pakistan’s Bowlers Shine

The Pakistani bowlers were very effective today. Salman Mirza was the star of the show, taking 3 wickets for just 24 runs.

The spin bowlers also made it very difficult for the Dutch batters. Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Saim Ayub all took 2 wickets each. Shaheen Shah Afridi also picked up one wicket to help restrict the Netherlands.

A Tense Chase for Pakistan

Chasing a target of 148 runs, Pakistan faced a tough challenge. The Netherlands bowlers fought hard and did not make it easy for the Pakistani batters.

The match went down to the wire, creating a tense atmosphere in the stadium. Pakistan lost 7 wickets during the chase, which kept the Netherlands in the game until the very end. However, Pakistan managed to hold their nerves.

They reached the target of 148 runs in 19.3 overs, winning the match with just 3 balls remaining.

A Good Start for Pakistan

This victory gives Pakistan crucial points to start their World Cup campaign in Group A. While the Netherlands lost, they showed great fighting spirit and proved they can compete with the top teams.

Cricket fans enjoyed a thrilling start to the 2026 World Cup, and they will be looking forward to the next matches.