Asked to bat first, the Netherlands scrapped their way to 147 all out in 19.5 overs, riding key contributions from Scott Edwards (37 off 29) and Bas de Leede (30 off 25).
Pakistan’s attack kept things tight through the middle, with Abrar Ahmed (2/23) and Salman Mirza (3/24) doing the bulk of the damage, while Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with two wickets despite going at 9.50 an over.
The Dutch innings never quite broke free. Early wickets hurt momentum, and whenever a partnership threatened, Pakistan struck back.
Edwards’ brisk knock steadied the ship, but a late cluster of wickets ensured the total stayed within reach.
Pakistan’s chase promised comfort early on. Saim Ayub blasted 24 off 13 and Sahibzada Farhan anchored the innings with a classy 47 off 31, lifting Pakistan to 98 by the 11th over.
Then came the wobble. Four wickets fell for just 16 runs as van der Merwe and van Meekeren tightened the screws, dragging the contest into the final overs.
With pressure mounting, Faheem Ashraf turned the game on its head. The all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 29 off just 11 balls, including three sixes, to swing momentum back Pakistan’s way.
Calm support from Shaheen Shah Afridi at the other end ensured there were no late stumbles as Pakistan crossed the line at 148/7 in 19.3 overs.
For the Netherlands, Paul van Meekeren (2/20) and Roelof van der Merwe (1/13) stood out with disciplined spells, pushing Pakistan to the brink before Faheem’s late assault sealed it.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was priceless. Pakistan walk away with two points and a reminder—both to themselves and the rest of the tournament—that in World Cups, they know how to win the tight ones.
