Pakistan (148/7) defeat Netherlands (147) by 3 wickets in a tense last-over thriller in the opening game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026

[RidiculousMan]

2 in 4 balls for the Starboy!

 

[jamie smith fan]

Another one for saim

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Number 1 aal rounder

 

[TeymurBlake]

Another wicket for Saim.

 

[hamzie]

Saim showing why he's #1

 

[Asad T]

Van Beek walks in

Rameez: "Van Baik I hope i'm pronouncing that right."

The guy is an experienced broadcaster; why not learn the players' names before jumping into the comms box. the professionalism of our commentators...

 

[msb314]

Saim on fire

 

[Sherazkhalid]

oh come on, make me even more angry, why was he not bowled earlier.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Netherlands falling apart

 

[Usman Chadda]

I think we just unearthed a reliable death overs bowler

 

[Energy]

Half tracker gets another wicket for Saim.

 

[Major]

Whats with dutch and their love for bucket hats

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Saim Ayub is clearly 6th option in this 11. No need for Faheem. we can play Nafay

 

[Asad T]

It's as if Salman just felt bad for ND by not bowing saim earlier

 

[TeymurBlake]

Should not be a single there.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Van Beek walks in

Rameez: "Van Baik I hope i'm pronouncing that right."

The guy is an experienced broadcaster; why not learn the players' names before jumping into the comms box. the professionalism of our commentators...

He barely gets out players names right, expecting him to pronounce faaren players names is just unfair to the poor guy.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Since when did Aryan Dutt become capable with the bat?

 

[Human786]

129/7

game over boyz ...134/7 in 17

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistani fans relax. Everythign is goign as per plan. The spinners tightened their grip and you're looking at a 140sh total to chase down.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Aryan Dutt is no mug with the bat

 

[Azzurri]

Guys just look at this team and most of these non performing chokers are repeat offenders

 

[Sherazkhalid]

oh man, almost a perfect over.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Aryan Dutt is a very handy off spinner, will trouble us.

 

[CricVet]

As I thought earlier - 150 to 160 game. After DL, we may have to chase probably 10/over when rain shows up

 

[Zeshan547]

Saim Ayub is clearly 6th option in this 11. No need for Faheem. we can play Nafay

Yeah no need for Shaheen actually, Their bowling is same but or Faheem might get tonked for fewer runs , and his batting is much better , Nafay comes in for Shaheen, Faheem can bowl with the new ball also if needed.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Saim should bowl ahead of Shadab TBH.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Netherlands have been very lucky today. Bunch of balls landed in no man's land.

 

[jamie smith fan]

Saim should bowl ahead of Shadab TBH.

Shadab bowled well tbf

 

[JattMaula]

Spinners on

 

[Bhaijaan]

Pakistani fans exhibit SDE.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Netherlands' Top 7 are all right handers. Horrible lineup construction, especially against an attack that usually struggles to bowl to left handers.

All right hander lineup against 4 spinners turning the ball away . Struggling to accelerate now and losing wickets.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Shaheen please finish off the tail

 

[Usman Chadda]

Shaheen is back to give Netherlands a few more runs than they should be getting

 

[Sherazkhalid]

whats the point of brining in Shaheen, bad captaincy

 

[CricVet]

It is wierd that Saim has been bowling in PP lately, but not today. What the heck is that preparation?

 

[Usman Chadda]

It is wierd that Saim has been bowling in PP lately, but not today. What the heck is that preparation?

Faheem bhai batting at 8 and not bowling a single over is more shocking tbh

 

[jamie smith fan]

Wicket for sheenu now

 

[imshally81]

8 gone

 

[BouncerGuy]

Another good catch... Salman ali agha this time.

 

[Energy]

Faheem bhai batting at 8 and not bowling a single over is more shocking tbh

Faheem bhai dil mein aatay hain, samajh mein nahi.

 

[jamie smith fan]

Faheem bhai batting at 8 and not bowling a single over is more shocking tbh

Nafay should have played instead of him

 

[imshally81]

Why Faheem is in team?

 

[Bhaijaan]

This is a bowling masterclass.

Pakistan tightening the screwed around Netherland's neck.

 

[imshally81]

Nafay should have played instead of him

What about Usman Tariq?

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Faheem bhai dil mein aatay hain, samajh mein nahi.

Rana ji is a proper free loader. Specialist fielder

 

[Zeshan547]

Dutch have just fallen apart vs not so great bowling. Just proving their associate status.The number of unforced errors we made today any other top team would have taken full advantage of.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Ofcourse he couldn't close out the over, atleast this Dutt guy is off strike for the last over.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Salman Mirza with the final over.

No Rana Saab today then.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Had to give a four, our premium bowler

 

[CricVet]

Faheem bhai batting at 8 and not bowling a single over is more shocking tbh

I can understand that since there is not much movement there. Yes, his slower balls could make things unpredictable. However, Saim not bowling his carrom balls in PP is much more strange.

 

[Asif321]

This Score enough to scare Pakistan

 

[sweep_shot]

NED - 145/8 (191.1 overs).

I think Pakistan did well. Very flat pitch. Netherlands are short.

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Shaheen bowling Soft balls and getting smashed through extra cover. The way he has bowled , Stronger opposition would have taken him to cleaners

 

[TeymurBlake]

Good bouncer.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

What about Usman Tariq?

Nafay in place of Sahibzada if he doesn't perfaarm today and Usman in for Shaheen or one pacer.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Even dutch have made 160 for us it looks like a huge mountain

 

[TeymurBlake]

In the slot Salman man. Where is the variation gone.

 

[Energy]

The magic 150 will be enough for Pakistani batters to fluff the chase.

Don't get fooled by Shaheen's previous over. Bowled full and could have gone for 6 fours easily. Mirza is doing the same.

 

[Zeshan547]

This Score enough to scare Pakistan

Then the should just come back home from first flight available if they are scared to chase 150 vs might Dutch bowling on a very decent wicket with no demons.

 

[CricVet]

I just don't get this pace bowling in the end. A very very ordinary call from Pak management

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

Yeah no need for Shaheen actually, Their bowling is same but or Faheem might get tonked for fewer runs , and his batting is much better , Nafay comes in for Shaheen, Faheem can bowl with the new ball also if needed.

If Faheem is to play he needs to bat up the order.

 

[imshally81]

Why Salman come over the wicket ?

 

[TeymurBlake]

Good catch Farhan.

 

[imshally81]

9 down

 

[JattMaula]

Agent Orange gone.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Not the worst bowling performance but certainly off the mark. Pakistan should be favorites to chase this now.

 

[imshally81]

Nafay in place of Sahibzada if he doesn't perfaarm today and Usman in for Shaheen or one pacer.

And what about Faheem Ashraf ?

 

[TeymurBlake]

Another wicket for Salman.

 

[Bhaijaan]

150sh total to chase.

Feeling nostalgic. This is what Babar and Rizwan lived for. Scoring 70sh something, taking the game to the 19th over,

 

[G0rmintAunty]

Need to chase this down in 15 overs or so to get that NRR up.

 

[BouncerGuy]

147 all out... 148 target... should be easy one here

 

[JattMaula]

50 runs under par.

 

[Zeshan547]

If Faheem is to play he needs to bat up the order.

In place of whom? All batters above him are more suited then him, he has been good as a finisher of late. And good enough for 25 of 15 kinda innings.

 

[G0rmintAunty]

And what about Faheem Ashraf ?

He can bowl if the other pacer gets phainty, he has been in good batting form recently, should give our line up.soke kaanfidence to go hard early on knowing we have batting till the lower end.

 

[Wasim Ghulam]

In place of whom? All batters above him are more suited then him, he has been good as a finisher of late. And good enough for 25 of 15 kinda innings.

Faheem can bat better than Babar in t20 lol we need that 15 off 25 to keep monentum at top. no anchor role by fake king

 

[Zeshan547]

They should keep an eye on DLS after 5 overs. Shouldn't be too daunting considering the target. Just stay well ahead of the required target throughout. Hope they don't get caught up sleeping and take it too casually early on.

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Pakistan should walk it, but there's enough there for a couple of panicky or over confident moments to make it interesting.

 

[msb314]

Nawaz’s English was significantly better than I expected…. lol

 

[TeymurBlake]

What is that hair about Paul Van Meekeren.

Terrible.

 

[zahid01]

Pakistan should walk it, but there's enough there for a couple of panicky or over confident moments to make it interesting.

Don't worry we have an anchor babar the king