Pakistan narrowly defeated the Netherlands by three wickets in the T20 World Cup curtain-raiser in Colombo on Saturday thanks to an unbeaten 29 from 11 balls from Faheem Ashraf.
At the Sinhalese Sports Club ground, Pakistan was forced to work hard as the Netherlands claimed a string of late wickets, leaving them in need of 29 runs from the final two overs and with only three wickets remaining.
Max O’Dowd dropped him in the deep in the 19th over, from which Faheem blasted 24 runs, including three sixes, and finished the chase with three balls to spare.
Chasing 148, Pakistan had a strong start and quickly reached 61/2 after the six-over powerplay. Sahibzada Farhan appeared to be in top form, scoring 47 off of 31, but his departure tipped the scales in the Dutch favor.
Right-arm pacer Paul van Meekeren turned the screws with a double-wicket maiden. After losing three wickets for two runs in ten deliveries, Pakistan was in danger when the unconvincing Babar Azam was dismissed for a scratchy 15 in the following over.
As the chase faltered, Faheem and Shaheen Shah Afridi forged a brilliant, unbroken 34-run stand for the eighth wicket to send Pakistan home.
The 2009 winners, who have already lost points to India due to a forfeiture ordered by the government, cannot afford to lose in the group stage.
The Netherlands displayed a great deal of flare after being in to bat. They were in a strong position at 127-4 with four overs remaining, encouraged by some 200 traveling supporters, but Pakistan put the brakes on, with the spinners splitting six wickets between them.
With a brilliant 37 off 29 balls, Edwards led the innings, but he was dismissed as he attempted to take the aerial route against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
The Dutch were then bowled out with one ball remaining after two wickets from part-time spinner Saim Ayub in the 17th over, followed by a three-wicket burst from left-arm fast Salman Mirza.
Pakistan played incredibly well in the field, taking some excellent catches in the deep, and only let up 20 runs in the last four overs.
In the 20-team competition, which is being co-hosted by reigning winners India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan will play all of its games in Sri Lanka.
