'T20 World Cup starts with upset’: Fans react as Pakistan snatch victory from jaws of defeat vs Netherlands

Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, secured a win from the jaws of defeat against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup 2026 opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday, February 7. Faheem Ashraf played a quick cameo in the final overs to help them chase down the target with three balls to spare.

The Netherlands posted a total of 147 runs after being asked to bat first. Pakistan bowlers picked up wickets at regular intervals, which stopped the Netherlands batters from gaining momentum. The Men in Green looked set to chase down the target early before quick wickets, but Faheem helped the team win.

Faheem Ashraf Guides Pakistan to Victory From the Jaws of Defeat

Pakistan were under heavy pressure late in the chase, needing 29 runs from the final 12 balls, with the Netherlands on the brink of a famous upset. Faheem Ashraf smashed a six off the first ball, but the turning point came when Max O’Dowd dropped Faheem at long-on on the second delivery of the over.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

The missed chance proved costly as Pakistan took 24 runs from the penultimate over, leaving just 5 runs to win from the final six balls. What had looked like a winning position for the Netherlands quickly slipped away.

Bas de Leede bowled the final over, and on the third ball, Faheem struck a full toss for four to seal the chase. Pakistan crossed the line with three wickets in hand and three balls remaining, completing a dramatic turnaround.

Netherlands Bowled Out for 147 in 19.5 Overs

The Netherlands got off to a decent start after being put in to bat, but Pakistan kept picking up wickets to stay in control. Openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd added 28 runs before Salman Mirza dismissed O’Dowd for 5 off 7 balls, while Mohammad Nawaz removed Levitt for 24 off 15 balls.

Bas de Leede and Colin Ackermann then added 34 runs for the third wicket. Abrar Ahmed struck in the eighth over to dismiss Ackermann for 20 off 14 balls, leaving the Netherlands at 65 for 3. De Leede later scored 30 off 25 balls before being dismissed by Nawaz.

Abrar picked up his second wicket by removing Scott Edwards for 37 off 29 balls. Saim Ayub claimed two wickets in an over, dismissing Logan van Beek for a duck and Zach Lion-Cachet for 9. Shaheen Afridi then removed Roelof van der Merwe for 4.

Salman Mirza wrapped up the innings by dismissing Aryan Dutt for 13 and Paul van Meekeren for a duck. Mirza finished with three wickets, while Nawaz, Abrar, and Saim Ayub picked up two each.

Fans React as Pakistan Secure Victory Over the Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2026 Opener

Pakistan winning vs Netherlands is an upset.

That catch drop will forever haunt O'Dowd. https://t.co/gJ7CauEZhk

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) February 7, 2026

What a twist of emotions in the last couple overs for Pakistan and Netherlands pic.twitter.com/6Z9MRxaQJq

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) February 7, 2026

Pakistan toh haar raha hai Netherland se 😂 pic.twitter.com/ft0o60sqRd

— N I T I N (@theNitinWalke) February 7, 2026

Netherlands were 77% favourites with two overs left. Pakistan simply being Pakistan.* A great escape

(*It's a compliment)#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/aSiwzNciOM

— Sreshth Shah (@sreshthx) February 7, 2026

For me Netherlands are the real winners of this match. ICC rigged the pitch in favour of Pakistan so that they can win the match pic.twitter.com/EoTYGxsCca

— AntiBazballian ™ (Joe Root Paglu) (@rs_3702) February 7, 2026

The Netherlands are infamous for being the only European nation to have eaten their Prime Minister. Well, they have just been gobbled up by Pakistan after a horror over from Van Beek, just when a Dutch triumph seemed in the bag. Pakistan survive this nerve-jangling beginning.

— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) February 7, 2026

Netherlands choked in the last two overs otherwise Pakistan was out of this WC in the first match itself

— AdityaRRaj (@RR_for_LIFE) February 7, 2026

They had the game in the bag, Netherlands have done a Pakistan

— Bharath (@cbae_02) February 7, 2026

Pakistan is a disgrace to modern T20, and Netherlands fought but bottled it badly, they should have won it.

— Sai (@akakrcb6) February 7, 2026

Pakistan upset Netherlands!

— Arani Basu (@AraniBasuTOI) February 7, 2026

ITS AN UPSET IN THE FIRST MATCH OF THE TOURNAMENT!!!

Pakistan have beaten Netherlands!!!!

The clowns deserved to lose but a fluke innings from Ashraf won them the game 🤡

— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) February 7, 2026

T20 World Cup 2026 starts with an upset. Netherlands loses to Pakistan.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 7, 2026

UPSET ALERT: PAKISTAN DEFEAT NETHERLANDS IN A HUMDINGER

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 7, 2026

Also read: India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match still on? Sri Lanka police not informed of any cancellation