पाकिस्तान vs नीदरलैंड्स, मैच 1 Commentary, Live Updates

Drama delivered, more to come - Right then, that is it from this edge-of-the-seat curtain-raiser at the World Cup, where Pakistan just get the better of the Netherlands to claim their first two points. However, the action does not stop here as the focus now shifts to Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where West Indies are taking on Scotland. That one will get underway shortly, and you can simply switch tabs to enjoy all the coverage of that game. Cheers!

The victorious skipper of Pakistan - Salman Agha reflected on a hard-fought opening victory, noting that while his side successfully restricted the Netherlands to a total they were happy to chase, their batting performance lacked the clinical edge he demands. He credited his spinners for maintaining their excellent six-month form to hold things really well in the field, but he expressed concern over the mid-innings collapse that followed a strong start with the bat. Highlighting the difficulty of starting an innings in the prevailing conditions, Salman emphasized that set batters must take greater responsibility to finish games rather than succumbing to pressure. Agha acknowledged the fact that just 2-3 bad overs can change the course of a T20 game.

The captain of Netherlands - Scott Edwards says that they were not at their best in all three facets of the game, but credits his team for hanging in there. Adds that they kept losing wickets at crucial times and could not build partnerships. He thinks that a score of over 160 would have given them a better chance, but they kept fighting with the ball. Praises Roelof van der Merwe and Paul van Meekeren for getting them back in the game with a couple of excellent spells. Says that Pakistan were run-a-ball in the chase, but then Paul bowled a double-wicket maiden to change the game. Ends by saying that the boys kept fighting but cricket can be a cruel game.

Presentation time...

Dutch fightback undone at the death - The Netherlands will feel they had Pakistan within their grasp but let it slip away. For the first ten overs they looked out of the contest, but a double-wicket maiden from Paul van Meekeren pulled them right back into the game. They built on that momentum with a few more strikes to keep the pressure on the batters and did well to turn it into a real contest. However, Logan van Beek's 19th over went for 24 runs and tilted the game decisively. One cannot help but wonder if Max O’Dowd had clung on to that chance off Ashraf, the story might have read very differently.

A tale of two halves for the Netherlands - Earlier in the game, the Netherlands posted a somewhat decent total, but they could have got much more considering they were cruising at 127/4 before losing their last six wickets for just 20 runs. There were still a few positives, with Bas de Leede and skipper Scott Edwards leading the way through the middle overs. It was a strong all-round bowling effort from Pakistan, with Mirza picking up a three-fer, while the spinners, apart from Shadab Khan, shared six wickets between them, and Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one.

A chase full of twists and turns - Pakistan's chase started brightly, but Saim Ayub went a little too hard too early and fell after a breezy cameo, with Agha following him soon after despite playing a few crisp shots. Still, they raced to 61 in the Powerplay, largely driven by Sahibzada Farhan's attacking intent. Pakistan were 11 runs ahead of the Dutch at the break, but once Farhan departed for 47, things unraveled quickly, slipping from 98/2 to 98/4 and then from 114/5 to 114/7, leaving them needing 33 from the final three overs. With the pressure mounting, Faheem Ashraf stepped up, smashing 24 runs in the 19th over to all but seal the game before calmly finishing the job without further trouble.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - It is none other than Faheem Ashraf for his knock of 29 off 11 balls. He attributed his match-winning performance to the aggressive, consistent brand of cricket Pakistan has cultivated over the past year. Addressing the high-pressure finish, Ashraf noted that his extensive experience in tight situations allowed him to maintain a calm mindset, focusing purely on his team role rather than the mounting tension. He revealed that his partnership strategy centered on wicket preservation and calculated accumulation, confident that boundaries would eventually flow if they stayed at the crease. While he humorously admitted to a moment of desperate prayer during a critical dropped catch, noting that his entire body was 'praying for the ball to drop' and he took pride in his ability to control his nerves during a mid-innings collapse, ultimately guiding his side to a successful result through disciplined execution.

Pakistan hold their nerve in a thriller - Phew! A thriller to kickstart the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and Pakistan have escaped from jail here, with all the credit going to Faheem Ashraf for his match-winning 29 off 11 under pressure. The Netherlands were in front going into the final three overs, but they have let it slip away and suffer heartbreak in the opening clash.

​​​​​​FOUR! Pakistan win by 3 wickets. A game-defining knock from Faheem Ashraf as he finishes things off in style with 29 off 11 balls. Full toss, wide of off, Faheem Ashraf pumps this wide to the fielder at sweeper cover and the ball bounces just in front of the fence and goes over it for four.

Slower bumper, around off. Faheem Ashraf goes for the hook but misses.

Good length on middle and leg, Shaheen pulls this to deep square leg for a run.

24 runs from the last over, and this game has slipped away from the Dutch. And with Kyle Klein out of the field, it will be Bas de Leede to bowl the last over. He has 4 runs to defend here. 5 for Pakistan to win. Is there more twist left?

FOUR! Edged and gone for four. 24 off this Logan van Beek over and this game has changed on its head. Good length around off, Faheem Ashraf swings at it, gets the outside edge and the ball races between the keeper and short third for a boundary. 5 needed off 6 balls.

SIX! Third biggie off the over and Faheem Ashraf has played a blinder here. Slower one, good length, on the pads, Faheem Ashraf slogs this deep into the crowd towards the deep square leg region for a telling six.

Wide yorker, around off, Faheem Ashraf looks to get bat on ball but misses.

SIX! Salt on the wounds of the Dutch side as Faheem Ashraf smashes another biggie. Hard length, around off, Faheem Ashraf stands his ground and smashes up and over the fence towards the long off region for yet another biggie. 15 off 9.

Kyle Klein is suffering from cramps, and unforutnately he is walking off the field now with the help of the physio. Hopefully, it is nothing serious.

DROPPED! That's what pressure does to you. Low full toss, slower around off, Faheem Ashraf goes after it, miscues it off the cue end and hits this to the right of Max O'Dowd at long on. Max runs to his right and does the hard work but as he falls on the deck, the ball pops out and Faheem Ashraf gets a lifeline. A couple more taken.

SIX! Pressure reliever for Faheem Ashraf and that Pakistan dugout. Good length on middle and leg, Faheem Ashraf stays leg side to it and slogs this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a huge six. 23 needed now off the last 11 balls.

Will Logan van Beek bowl the penultimate over, or will Scott Edwards save him for the last? It is van Beek to bowl the 19th. 29 needed in 12 balls.

Slower one, short and on leg, fingers rolled on this from Paul. Shaheen Afridi goes for a pull again but misses yet again.

Some spice from the pacer as Paul van Meekeren bangs this short and on leg, Shaheen Afridi backs away and looks to pull but misses.

Back of a length, wide of off, Shaheen Afridi chips this behind the fielder at mid off and takes a couple here.

Full and wide of off, Faheem Ashraf drives this to deep point for a single.

Clever from Paul as he follows Shaheen Afridi to his leg and cramps the batter for any sort of room. Shaheen Afridi edges this off the inside, onto his pads for a single as the ball rolls through silly point.

Around that nagging length, going across the batter. Shaheen Afridi looks to block but gets beaten.

Paul van Meekeren to bowl out now. He has been superb, giving away just 16 runs in his 3 overs, which includes a double-wicket maiden.

Good length around off, Faheem Ashraf pushes this to backward point and has to settle for another dot. 33 runs needed off the last 3 overs.

Back of a length around off, Faheem Ashraf pushes this to point for no run.

Full and on off, Shaheen Afridi thumps this down to long off for a single.

On a length around off, Shaheen Afridi punches this to covers.

Good length around off, Shaheen Afridi pokes at it but misses.

Shaheen Afridi walks out to bat now, with Pakistan in a spot of bother here.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Two-in-two for the Netherlands and they have the upper hand for the first time in this contest. Good length, around the pads, Shadab Khan looks to flick this around fine leg but manages just a faint tickle that is taken behind the stumps by Scott Edwards. However, he has taken the review here, but does not look that confident. UltraEdge confirms the edge and he has to walk back now. Pakistan are 114/7 now, still needing 34 runs in 23 balls.

Is that out? Shadab Khan has been strangled down the leg side, but he has taken a review here. The UltraEdge comes up and shows a clear spike when the ball passes the bat. It is OUT.

We have a game on our hands now! Faheem Ashraf joins Shadab Khan out in the middle now. Also, Logan van Beek (2-0-21-0) comes back into the attack.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Nawaz throws in the towel with a mistimed stroke in anger and has to walk back. Kyle Klein continues from around the stumps, rolls his fingers on a short one into the batter. Mohammad Nawaz clears his front foot and looks to heave this out of the park but mishits this. The ball hangs over the keeper and Scott Edwards does the rest by pouching this cleanly. 34 needed off 24 balls.

Slower one, short and wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz leaves it expecting a wide but the umpire calls it a fair one.

Pitched up, around off, Shadab Khan hammers this to the right of the fielder at mid off. Max O'Dowd does well to put in a dive to his right and keep it down to one.

On a length around middle and off, Mohammad Nawaz heaves it around the cow corner for a single.

Good length, wide of off, Mohammad Nawaz has a go at it with a wild slash but misses out.

On a length around middle and off, Shadab Khan chips this through mid on for one.

Fires this one full and around off, Shadab Khan goes down across for the paddle but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls wide of short third. They cross. There is also a shout for LBW, but turned down as the impact is way outside off. Aryan Dutt finishes a good spell of bowling with figures of 4-0-33-2.

Flatter, full and on leg, Mohammad Nawaz flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for another run.

Pushed through quicker, short and on middle, goes in with the arm. Mohammad Nawaz gets hurried on the back foot and just about keeps it out.

Floated, full and on middle, Shadab Khan drills it to long on for a run.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Mohammad Nawaz eases it to long off for a single. 40 runs needed in 34 balls now.

Flatter, short and around off, skids through, Mohammad Nawaz tries to cut it away but misses.

Good length and around off, Mohammad Nawaz steers it away through point for one.

Back of a length and outside off, Mohammad Nawaz slashes at it but misses.

Uh..oh! It looks like Paul van Meekeren is suffering from cramps here, and while he receives treatment, the umpires have called for Drinks. Pakistan were cruising to a victory but excellent bowling from Paul van Meekeren first and Roelof van der Merwe after him to remove 3 opponent batters in a span of 2 overs has brought the Dutch side back in the contest a bit. Pakistan are still in the pole position but with 42 more needed, a couple of more quick wickets might set this game to a close finish.

WIDE! Short of a length but down the leg side, rises up a bit off the deck. Mohammad Nawaz tries to hook it away but misses. The umpire takes his time but signals the wide.

Bangs in a bouncer now, on middle and leg, Mohammad Nawaz ducks under it.

Tight single! Back of a length and on off, Shadab Khan pats it in front of short cover and calls his partner for the run. Mohammad Nawaz responds well and makes his ground. The fielder misses his shy at the batter's end, but even with a direct hit, Nawaz would have been home.

Pitched up and around off, Mohammad Nawaz drives it through covers for a run.

Good length and on off, Shadab Khan taps it out towars short cover and scampers across for a single.

Shorish and around off, Shadab Khan punches it to sweeper cover for one. 1/13 in 3 overs, Roelof van der Merwe continues to impress.

Flatter, full and on off, Mohammad Nawaz tucks it towards mid-wicket for one.

Pakistan are in a batting collapse of their own. From 98 for 2 to 100 for 5. Mohammad Nawaz walks out next for Pakistan.

OUT! CAUGHT! Roelof van der Merwe strikes now. Pakistan have lost 3 wickets on the last 10 balls. This is tossed up, full and around off. Babar Azam uses his feet to go big down the ground, but cuts across it. He ends up slicing it high in the air towards long off, where Kyle Klein runs to his left and takes a good catch. Babar departs for a scratchy 15 off 18, and Pakistan are 100/5, still needing 48 runs in 44 balls. Game on?

Slows it up, full and on off, Babar Azam gets forward and blocks it out.

Flighted, full and on off, Shadab Khan lofts it to long off for a run.

Floated, full and on off, Babar Azam pushes it through covers for a single.

A double-wicket maiden from Paul van Meekeren and the Netherlands could sense an opening here. Also, Roelof van der Merwe is back on.

Double-wicket maiden over! A wide yorker, outside off, Shadab Khan jams it out to mid off.

Good length and just around off, Shadab Khan watches it through and leaves it alone.

Fuller delivery but angling down the leg side, Shadab Khan looks to flick it away but misses. There is a shout from the keeper for a caught behind, but turned down. There was a noise but maybe the ball just brushed the pads.

A couple of quick wickets for the Netherlands and Shadab Khan replaces Usman in the middle.

OUT! DRAGGED ON! Could this be the over that gets the Dutch back in this game? Well, Paul van Meekeren has given them some hope here. He hits the length hard and around off, it takes off a bit after landing. Usman Khan tries to guide it away with an angled bat but it's too close to his body and he gets an inside edge back onto the stumps. Usman departs for a two-ball duck, and Pakistan slips from 98/2 to 98/4.

Pitched up and on middle, Usman Khan knocks it back to the bowler.

Usman Khan is the next batter for Pakistan.

OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Paul van Meekeren gets the set batter now. He bangs this into the pitch, on middle, gets some extra bounce. Sahibzada Farhan looks to swat it down the ground but gets into an awkward position. He fails to handle the bounce and gets a top edge towards long on. Roelof van der Merwe runs forward and takes a fantastic diving catch just above the ground. Farhan walks back for 47 off 31, missing out on his half-century. 50 runs needed in 53 balls.

Short of a length and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan gets on top of the bounce and pulls it to deep square leg for one.

Right in the blockhole, on middle, Babar Azam does well to dig it out beside the pitch and takes a run.

FOUR! Easy pickings! Bas de Leede errs in line and serves this full but down the leg side. Babar Azam just has to get some bat on it and tickles it away to the fine leg fence for a boundary, his first.

Hard length and around off, Sahibzada Farhan uses his wrists and works it towards long on for a run.

Change of bat once again for Sahibzada Farhan.

On a length and on off, Sahibzada Farhan loses his bottom hand and pushes it to short cover.

Fuller and outside off, Babar Azam bunts it out towards long off for a single.

On a length around the pads, Babar Azam tucks this through mid-wicket and takes a run. 58 needed more at the halfway mark.

Hard length, on off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes this gently to mid off and rotates the strike.

WIDE! Bumper, way too high on the batter. Sahibzada Farhan leaves it. Wided.

Full and down the leg, Sahibzada Farhan gets inside the line and looks for a flick but misses. The umpire doesn't call it a wide.

FOUR! Off-cutter, into the deck from Kyle Klein. Sahibzada Farhan reads this early and waits for the ball to arrive close to him on his back foot. Smashes this through the backward square leg region for a boundary. The required rate drops below 6 now.

On a length slanting down the leg, Babar Azam nudges this through mid-wicket for one.

Back of a length around middle and leg, Sahibzada Farhan gets up on his toes and tucks this through mid-wicket. Initial call is of two from SF but the ball races to the deep mid-wicket fielder and the batters settle for one.

Fired into the batter, Farhan flicks this through mid-wicket and takes one. A couple of good tidy overs from Roelof van der Merwe but the same kind of support isn't available at the opposite end.

Quicker one, on off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes this towards the right of extra cover for no run.

Quicker one, around middle and off, Babar Azam gets it away through covers for a run.

Full and around middle and off, Sahibzada Farhan drives this through mid off for another strike rotation.

Flighted around leg, Babar Azam tucks this through mid on for a single.

Pushed through wide of off, Sahibzada Farhan hits this to long off for one.

Back of a length around middle and leg, Sahibzada Farhan pulls this to deep mid-wicket for a single to close the over.

FOUR! Edged and gone for four. Pace on offer, short and wide of off, Sahibzada Farhan looks for the pull but gets the timing wrong. Top-edged this behind the stumps and the ball still races to the fence for four more.

Slower one, around middle and off, Sahibzada Farhan flicks this a bit too hard, straight to mid on. Loud call of no from Farhan straightaway.

Short and on off, Babar Azam pulls this in front of square on leg towards deep mid-wicket for a single. This chase is tailor-made for someone like Babar who brings assurance to the crease more than strike rate.

Good length on middle and off, Sahibzada Farhan pushes this to the left of mid on and rotates the strike.

FOUR! Punched down the ground​​​​​​. Pitched up, around middle and off, Sahibzada Farhan stays deep inside the crease and muscles this past the bowler to his right for a boundary. This was loading after a quiet last over.

Another one flighted from Roelof van der Merwe, around off. Babar Azam uses his feet and dances down the track. Bumps this back to the bowler. A crowd catch from Roelof.

Full and on off, Babar Azam pushes this a bit too close to extra cover and settles for a dot.

Pushed through on off, Sahibzada Farhan smashes this to the left of long off and takes a run.

Flighted, on off. Babar Azam gets right on top of the bounce and rolls this to long off for another strike rotation.

Floated around off, Sahibzada Farhan rocks back and punches this through the left of extra cover for a single.

Flighted around middle and leg, Babar Azam flicks this through mid-wicket for one.

DRINKS! After the Powerplay, Netherlands were 50/2, so Pakistan are ahead in terms of runs. They do not have to take many risks, as there is no pressure of the asking rate, but looking at their approach, it looks like they want to chase this target as soon as possible, because NRR may play a big role later in the tournament. The Dutch need wickets as only that currency can get them back in this game. Scott Edwards has introduced Roelof van der Merwe to bowl after the break.

Good length, going down the leg, Sahibzada Farhan misses out on a flick and gets rapped on the pads. 61/2 after Powerplay!

Missed run out chance! Back of a length around middle and leg, Babar Azam dabs this around covers and calls for one. Sahibzada Farhan runs straightaway but even that wouldn't have been good enough had the throw from Bas de Leede hit the stumps at the striker's end. That would have been a massive wicket for the Dutch.

Back of a length around off, Babar Azam looks to cut this off his back foot but misses.

Excellent effort from the Dutch pacer to save three runs for his side. Short and on off, Sahibzada Farhan punches this crisply towards the left of mid on and a diving effort to his left from Kyle Klein saves three for the Netherlands.

SIX! That has been flicked up and over the fence for a biggie. Full and drifting down leg, Sahibzada Farhan leans inside the line and just whips at it with fast hands to flick this over the fence towards deep square leg for a biggie.

Good length, angling into the batter, Sahibzada Farhan dances down the track and gets cramped for any sort of room. Ends up getting hit around the thigh pad.

Short once more, outside off, Babar Azam steers it away to point.

Babar Azam walks out to replace his skipper in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Aryan Dutt gets the revenge. He bowls this slower through the air this time, full and outside off. Salman Agha backs away again to go over covers, but has to reach out for it. He ends up slicing it off the outer half of the bat straight to extra cover, where Michael Levitt crouches and reverse cups it nicely. Pakistan lose their skipper, and are 53/2 now. 95 runs needed in 91 balls.

FOUR! Pleasing to the eye! Aryan Dutt bowls this quicker and shorter, just around off. Salman Agha makes a bit of room, gets on top of it and smacks it past the diving cover-point fielder for another boundary. 50 UP FOR PAKISTAN!

Short again and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan moves back and swats it to long on for a single.

SIX! Even better and bigger now! Tossed up, full and on off, Sahibzada Farhan goes down on one knee. He does not quite get to the pitch of it, but reaches out and hoicks it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen of runs.

FOUR! Top shot! Aryan Dutt bowls this short and outside off. Sahibzada Farhan uses the width on offer, backs away and cuts it away powerfully through point for a boundary.

Pitched up and just outside off, Salman Agha tries to reach out for it but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball rolls beside the stumps. There is a bit of a mix-up between the batters, and they decide against the run in the end. However, Agha does not look happy with his partner here.

On a length and on off, Salman Agha opens the face of his bat and steers it away towards point.

FOUR MORE! Nice shot! Kyle Klein bangs this into the pitch, but not short enough to trouble the batter. Salman Agha expects that length, hangs back on the back foot and pulls it over mid-wicket for another boundary.

FOUR! That is a beautiful shot! Good length and on middle and off. Salman Agha uses his feet, stays leg side of the ball and drives it crisply on the up through covers for a boundary.

Full again and on the pads, Sahibzada Farhan flicks it and finds the gap at mid-wicket. The fielder from deep square leg runs to his left to cut it out. The batters have enough time to take the third run.

Fuller and on middle, angling in, Sahibzada Farhan tucks it away straight to short mid-wicket.

Just one over for Logan van Beek (1-0-13-0) as Kyle Klein replaces him in the attack.

Agha shimmies before the ball is released by Dutt and the bowler is clever enough to drag his length back and bowl at a quicker pace on off. Salman Agha ends up blocking this to covers.

Pushed through around off, Salman Agha pokes at it and gets it edged to short third.

After his recent success at 3, Salman Agha walks out to bat next for Pakistan.

OUT! TAKEN! Aryan Dutt gets his man and Netherlands get the big breakthrough here. This is floated, full and on middle and leg. Saim Ayub goes for the no-look shot across the line, but there was no need for that shot. He mistimes it off the outer half of the bat, straight up in the air. Roelof van der Merwe at mid on, backtracks a bit, settles under it and takes a good catch. Ayub walks back for 24 off 13 and Pakistan are 27/1, chasing 148 runs.

Flatter, shorish and on off, Saim Ayub stabs it out to short cover.

FOUR! Great timing and placement! Aryan Dutt drops it short and just on off. Saim Ayub moves on the back foot and punches it. He does not try to hit it too hard just places it between cover and point for a boundary.

Change of bat for Sahibzada Farhan. While playing the previous stroke, Farhan might have just broken the bottom of his bat and he has now changed the willow.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Sahibzada Farhan goes down and slogs it to wide long on for a single.

Touch fuller and around off, Saim Ayub strides out and pushes it to extra cover. 13 from the over and Pakistan have raced to 22 in no time.

Short and wide of off, Saim Ayub connects this well enough but fails to beat cover-point.

FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries! Logan van Beek errs in line again and serves this full, on the pads. Saim Ayub plays the pick-up shot again and whips it over mid-wicket for four more runs.

FOUR! Up and over! Short of a legnth and outside off, Saim Ayub gets the chance to free his arms and crunches the cut over point for another boundary.

FOUR! Put away! Fuller delivery, but angling into the pads. Saim Ayub picks it up and flicks it away with excellent timing through square leg for a boundary.

Logan van Beek begins with a full delivery, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan drills it to the left of mid on, where the fielder dives but fumbles. A single taken.

Pace from the other end as Logan van Beek will be bowling alongside Aryan Dutt.

Flatter, full and around off, Saim Ayub drives it wide of long off for a brace. 9 runs off the first over!

A shout for LBW, but turned down! Quicker, shortish and on off, Saim Ayub looks to work it across the line but misses and gets hit on the pads.

Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in. Saim Ayub winds up for the pull but adjusts to the length and fends it to the leg side.

SIX! BANG! Intent early on from Saim Ayub. Floated, full and around middle. Ayub skips down the track to get to the pitch of the ball and tonks it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Saim Ayub gets forward and blocks it out.

Pakistan are underway in the chase! Aryan Dutt starts with a short delivery, on middle, Sahibzada Farhan punches it towards long on for a single.