Faheem blitz sees Pakistan avoid Netherlands shock at T20 World Cup / Photo: © AFP
-
Italy inflation surges to 5.4% as economy stalls
-
Markets lashed by tech rout as earnings fan AI fears
-
US jury hands win to Bayer in weedkiller cancer case
-
Germans to join Europe's youth protest wave
-
Scotland's Kinghorn hails Toulouse move for enhancing career
-
Novaya Gazeta closure part of Russia's 'giant military campaign': Muratov to AFP
-
Eala aiming to finish season with bang after Tokyo exit
-
US oil giants report profit surge again on Iran war
-
Bournemouth boss Rose vows to be patient with Kroupi
-
Tech sell-off deepens as earnings fan AI fears
-
Eurozone growth holds up despite energy crunch
-
Carmaker Audi cuts outlook again on China, US woes
-
Thousands of students, workers protest in Italy under heavy security
-
Chase sparks Bangladesh collapse as West Indies on top in Mirpur
-
New Zealand's Phillips hits sublime century in 87-run win over India
-
BP net profit quadruples as Mideast war lifts oil prices
-
'Get them there alive': Ukraine's railways under Russian barrage
-
Kulusevski says 'nervous system changes' behind Spurs return
-
Dakar Rally moved to Portugal and Morocco following Houthi attacks in Gulf
-
Marquez crashes, then tops second practice in Malaysia
-
German economy logs 0.2% growth, faster than expected
-
New home for orangutans rescued from Indonesia's burning forests
-
Crypto platform Binance confirms 'complex' $6.3 bn hack
-
Independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta shuts under Kremlin pressure
-
Spanish inflation stays at three-year high before election
-
Thailand extends activist's jail term to more than 34 years
-
Drugs giant AstraZeneca reveals higher profits, savings plan
-
China denies spying on Nvidia's Jensen Huang
-
French economy 'headed for a wall' as GDP shrinks
-
BP net profit quadruples on higher oil prices
-
South Korea to prosecute students cheating with smart glasses
-
Kiss backs 'hungry' Beale to push for Wallabies game time
-
Surging costs of living top US voter concerns
-
World number one Rybakina withdraws in Tokyo with injury
-
Basic services, fading loyalties loom over South Africa's vote
-
Malawi's fuel shortages, record prices deepen economic crisis
-
Shock, vindication, regret: Scientists react to AI roiling life's work
-
Rubio hosts G20 ministers as Iran, Ukraine wars divide members
-
Crypto platform Binance confirms $6.3 bn hack
-
From minerals to AI, EU and Canada to forge new alliance
-
Boozer shines as Grizzlies top Blazers in battle of NBA unbeatens
-
Fire pollution killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September: report
-
Jorge Martin confirmed to race at Malaysian MotoGP
-
Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher split on Liverpool-Arsenal prediction
-
Bayern and Kane host Dortmund after week of 'extremes'
-
The Duskbloods delayed as Nintendo Switch 2 release moves to 2027
-
Packers beat Panthers 27-19 as Watson returns from hospital
-
Russia turns to NATO countries for prosthetics amid war-related shortages
-
Affordable supermarket fashion offers designer-inspired autumn alternatives
-
Researchers on island encounter giant spider legs emerging from a burrow
Faheem blitz sees Pakistan avoid Netherlands shock at T20 World Cup
Faheem Ashraf smashed an unbeaten 29 off 11 balls as Pakistan scrambled past the Netherlands by three wickets to avoid a massive shock in the curtain-raiser of the T20 World Cup in Colombo on Saturday.
Pakistan were made to sweat as the Netherlands took a flurry of late wickets to leave them needing 29 off the last two overs with only three wickets in hand at the Sinhalese Sports Club ground.
Faheem then hit 24, including three sixes, off a 19th over that also saw him dropped in the deep by Max O'Dowd and then completed the chase with three balls to spare.
Pakistan had begun well, racing to 61 for two after the six-over power play.
Sahibzada Farhan looked in prime touch, cracking 47 off 31, but his exit swung the pendulum the Dutch way.
Right-arm quick Paul van Meekeren produced a double-wicket maiden to turn the screws.
When Babar Azam perished in the next over, Pakistan were in trouble having lost three wickets for two runs in the space of 10 deliveries.
With the chase wobbling, Faheem stitched a priceless unbroken 34-run stand for the eighth wicket with Shaheen Afridi to steady the ship and keep Pakistan afloat.
The 2009 champions can ill afford a defeat in the group stage, having already conceded points against India following a government enforced forfeiture.
Earlier, the Netherlands showed plenty of flair after being put in.
Roared on by around 200 travelling fans, they were in a good position at 127-4 with four overs to go, but Pakistan applied the brakes with the slow men sharing six wickets between them.
Captain Scott Edwards anchored the innings with a polished 37 off 29 balls, but perished when he tried to take the aerial route against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed.
Part-time spinner Saim Ayub then struck twice in the 17th over before left-arm quick Salman Mirza's three-wicket burst dismissed the Dutch with one ball to spare.
Pakistan conceded just 20 runs in the final four overs backed up by a razor-sharp performance in the field with several outstanding catches in the deep.
Pakistan can ill-afford any slip-ups in the group stage after saying they will not play against India on February 15 on government instructions and forfeiting the points in Group A.
Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka in the 20-team tournament co-hosted by Sri Lanka and defending champions India.
F.Pavlenko--BTB
