Pakistan restrict Netherlands to 147 in T20 World Cup opener

Pakistan restricted Netherlands to 147 runs in the T20 World Cup opener as Green Shirts began their campaign at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to field first. The Dutch innings started with openers Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd, who put on 28 runs before O’Dowd was dismissed for 5 by Salman Mirza. Levitt fell shortly after for 24, trapped by Muhammad Nawaz.

Colin Ackermann contributed 20 runs, while Bas de Leede added 30 before falling to Nawaz, who took his second wicket. Mohammad Abrar claimed the fifth wicket, and Saim Ayub sent back the sixth and seventh batsmen. Roelof van der Merwe was the eighth to go, caught by Salman Ali Agha off Shaheen Afridi.

In the final over, Salman Mirza finished strongly, taking two more wickets to bowl out the Netherlands for 147.

Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils: Salman Mirza took three wickets, Saim Ayub, Muhammad Abrar, and Muhammad Nawaz grabbed two each, and Shaheen Afridi took one.

With 148 runs to chase, Pakistan will look to start their T20 World Cup journey with a win.