Pakistan looked set to become the latest victims of giant-killers Netherlands in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 curtain-raiser when they slumped to 114/7 in Colombo on February 7. Chasing the Dutch total of 147, Pakistan went from 2/98 to 7/114 in the span of five overs, leaving them in a rather tight spot.
The Dutch, who famously stunned hosts England in the 2009 T20 World Cup Opener and again in the 2014 edition, smelled another big scalp was well within their grasp with two new batters at the crease in the form of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Faheem Ashraf at the start of the 17th over.
Earlier in the game, a disciplined batting effort with notable contributions from captain Scott Edwards (37) and Bas de Leede (30) helped power Netherlands to a modest total of 147 before being bowled out in the final over.
Pakistan got off to a comfortable start in the chase with a 61-run powerplay and looked to be cruising before Paul van Meekeren struck twice in the 12th over. The Dutch pacer got rid of opener Sahibzada Farhan (47) before sending Usman Khan back on a duck as Pakistan's middle order collapsed, losing five wickets for just 16 runs.
van Meekeren, who was the pick of the Dutch bowlers, bowled out in the 18th over with figures of 2/20, but more importantly he left Pakistan in a tight spot needing 29 runs from the final two overs.
19th-Over Drama:
Dutch captain Edwards handed the responsibility of bowling the penultimate over to the experienced Logan Van Beek who had given away just 22 runs in his first three overs. However, Ashraf wasn't prepared to go down without a fight especially as luck was on his side.
Ashraf began the over with a towering slog-sweep over midwicket but then launched a full-toss high towards long-off where Max O'Dowd was positioned. The Dutch fielder did well to cover the ground and grabbed onto what looked like a game-defining catch only for the ball to pop out of his palms just as his knee hit the ground.
Gifted a second-life while still batting on 7, Ashraf wasn't going to spurn this opportunity to rescue his side. The southpaw celebrated by sending the very next delivery flying straight down the ground this time clearing the ropes comfortably.
He whipped another maximum over square leg off the penultimate delivery before wrapping up the over with a boundary to take 24 runs off it, reducing the equation to just five needed off the final over.
Afridi (5*) recognizing the need to hand over responsibility to the red-hot Ashraf rotated strike at the start of the final over and with four needed, Ashraf slapped one over cover to save his nation the blushes of an embarrassing defeat and hand them a three-wicket victory instead.
For Player of the Match, Ashraf (29* off 11 balls) it was just another day at the office as he said in his post-match interview, “We have been playing this brand of cricket for this past year. Heart rates go up and down, it's happened so many times before, we're used to it. Shaheen and I were talking about saving wickets, knew we could take down whatever in one over. When the ball is in the air, you just want the ball to land. Our efforts is to finish games as early as possible. But you have to hold your nerves in these situations.”
Relive Faheem Ashraf's late blitz that dragged Pakistan over the line through the link below.
Watch: Faheem Ashraf's match-winning cameo | POTM (ICC Video)
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