00:00It's a beautiful country Sri Lanka and there are great spots Colombo is obviously going to hog the
00:09limelight because the capital city and we are here at SSC it's a beautiful cricket ground both
00:15teams are locking horns for this all-important first contest of this year's World Cup 2026
00:23Pakistan boasts of great talent the spin department is brilliant well at the toss it was Salman Aliaga
00:32called correctly and elected to ball on what appears to be a very grassy surface Pakistan
00:39versus Netherlands from the Sinali Sports Club Colombo that's gone for four first ball out of
00:46the crease works it into the field through the leg side that's an aggressive start and a very good
00:52start I think he was trying to negate that in swinging angle and it worked well in the end
00:56yeah this time lot better from the left armor that's a beauty didn't really come back didn't
01:10really swing a lot but it was the length that did him in in the end it's one thing that yeah that's
01:20into the gap it's a fast outfield that's another boundary playing with an open stance once again
01:27to make sure that he done yeah ends with a peach and it's nine without a wicket oh that is smashed for
01:39four didn't really have to move a great deal and once again an early indication it's going to be a
01:45a feather bear out there yeah the link was good the shape was back into the body a bit of a whack
01:57through the leg side missed it yeah brought it back into the stumps yeah is the cutter that stayed just a
02:13little bit low oh that's hit so hard absolutely nailed it over mid wicket Ramis we are talking to you about
02:25it's a flick and that's well blocked well feel it but for him full length dive oh that's colored for six
02:41made a great sound it's gone all the way what a pickup shot China free the under the car she's
02:49feeling the pressure the length balls are not really working that's gone up in the air who's calling for
03:04this right keeper once it takes it really good snap that he really had to run and make sure that the
03:14calling was great there were three four other feelers converging on that catch top is it oh doubt is done
03:20love the way that husband cop attacking the stumps this is a good beats him with a fuller length delivery
03:33excellent over comes to an end one for eight after two mirza 31 for one important to find the pace
03:42actually at what base you want to book that's gone up in the air will this be taken hail Baba Razum and
03:53takes it that's fantastic piece of feeling to feelers got it covered got it done this is massive this is
04:02athleticism at its very best great communication between the two feelers shine shower freely they're
04:09indicating to the umpire with a raised finger that this is great job done doesn't break his stride length
04:16then consistently just takes a little look down at his feet and then look at the reaction you see how
04:22makes it sure big shot straight hit for four that's lovely piece of footwork
04:32there's no better way to deliver momentum and therefore power into the plate against the spinner
04:40Navas off the mark so Martin was up in his first ICC men's t20 World Cup it's up a wicket has not been
04:53blasted away for four hugely experienced Colin Ackerman and he'll know his role here Pakistan now drill down
05:05the ground for four it's onto that so quickly was Ackerman I like the way he moves toward the offside he knew
05:23a gap found in the offside put away for four get over for Netherlands 14 from the over 50 up the end of six
05:35overs
05:36women's swing hard and that will go for four Matt Sackerman for you 58 for two
05:50gold a pinch single this is what's so good about the Dutch side no it's just to build up on that big
06:02shout big shout it's just missing leg stumble what a gap found experience comes to the floor from Colin
06:16Ackerman I'm very impressed by the out of the ball goes very very sharply bold clean them up that's a
06:24beautiful delivery came in sharply he's a wicket-taker a bravo hug
06:34on him
06:35yes Scott Edwards
06:43I guess don't be so aware of the threat that he poses that is unnecessary just when you picked up a wicket
06:53you leak some runs
06:55it's all about pressure
07:02shot options will be crucial here for the Netherlands side with
07:11hits hit in the air but the gap found beautifully by Buster later welcome runs for the Netherlands team
07:21well last six weeks they've been around this coming quite easily that's not a bad delivery ball wider and
07:29ball a little slower
07:30hasn't bowl yet sweep beautifully played there's a fielder there but no chance no chance much needed boundary
07:39for the Netherlands and that to sweep on a sweep fly to delivery top patch there's a fielder there is he
07:50going to drop it no man's land yes it date well it was almost a carbon copy of the first
07:57a little bit of turn from shut up number 20 off what's going to be his in I mean your premium slog
08:10sweep there's a fielder there but to no avail the maximum hundred up as well for Netherlands just
08:18three tickets down we're into 13th over what a shot there's a fielder there but no chance it was hit
08:26firmly another boundary 11 runs on the over kind of sense and that's how now wise has a happy knack of
08:42taking wickets because his variation and pace is subtle and superb knows just saying was this was a key
08:50moment for Pakistan to start to interject their own power and presence in this gap shut up concerns and
08:58drops drop catch by one of the best fielders in Pakistan side shut up on on his own bowling the good
09:07delivery punish through the offside that's a beautiful shot there from Scott Edwards he's finding his rhythm
09:17he's 32 off 22 delivery gets away with it wants to go over the top of extra cover but gets a little
09:27outside edge on it races away quick certain terms in this innings there he goes big is it big enough that's
09:35take her and catch Sabzada Farhan takes the catch the catching has been really special from Pakistan but
09:45the change in pace the variations of variation gone soft dismissal just scooping the ball at short cover
09:53Simon you'll be the latest pinup boy in t20 cricket as an all-rounder 75 another call for catch it this
10:05should be taken as well easily held Mohammed Nawaz they're making no lovely drive this really is a special
10:19shot a cracking cover drive and in studio he connects that's gone up in the air Salman Ali Agha is a good
10:29fielder he's running backwards takes an excellent catch wonderful pair of hands great anticipation he
10:36called it and Pakistan had been red-hot with catching teen great shot four runs beautifully directed through the
10:45offside the balance was on the back foot and absolutely creamed it that's gone up in the air another catch will it be
10:55taken and it's taken Mohammed Nawaz they're doing a fabulous job in fact it's and he's gone caught behind
11:07nobody really appeal except for the keeper and it's all over for Netherlands they promised a lot and in the end
11:14they've got runs on the board didn't look like that would be the target the way Netherlands were
11:18going but what Pakistan did so well is every time a partnership started building they took wickets
11:23yeah 50 in that power play which was a pretty good power play for Netherlands
11:29Pakistan are underway excellent use of the feeds intent early on from Samayou
11:41such a clean striker of the ball Simon you it's a lovely shot through the gap and there's a wonderful
11:54outfield it'll race away for four Simon you were up and over played that with the real confidence this is
12:07excellent to see from Samayou he's taking on the game over the years gasping coming to Sri Lanka and this pitch here
12:15wonderful pickup dealing in boundaries Samayou don't call him there that is his zone that's his area onto the legs and
12:27uh
12:32tiny little gap and he's found it Samayou precision once the ball beats the
12:43yeah that's off the batter it's up in the air is this an opportunity for Netherlands it's taken
12:50let's go the bulldog holds on to the catch and Netherlands after a flurry of runs have struck an early
12:58blow played so well in the first
13:04drill through the offside beautiful shot well these two batters likes a bit of pace on the ball
13:11and straight away Salman Aliaga I just use
13:19picked up
13:21yeah you saw that early
13:24you can't miss out on that
13:26no real pace on that no real threat
13:30for Salman Aliya
13:31oh that's lovely wait for that for that so Pakistan continue to hit boundaries
13:45oh he's teed off on that one it's all the way into the stands for six
13:50I think skipper must have told Farhan listen
13:53oh how beautiful is that what a way to bring up 50 for Pakistan 53 for one with two balls to go in
14:02the fifth over well I'm not sure if
14:08easy catch and a soft dismissal
14:14this time he got it wrong it was a little bit fuller
14:18and again was looking to create that angle
14:23dot ball to end the fifth over 53 for two
14:29oh look at that
14:32he's put it away he gets off the mark
14:36correction that's Farhan on strike talking of barber
14:41just looked like he flicked that into the
14:42nice nice that's Farhan hits through the line
14:50stand and deliver what a shot with the straight bat he's on 30
14:57oh top edge that'll be four
15:01wild hoik from Farhan
15:04obviously his idea was to go towards mid wicket but the extra bounce
15:08I think got
15:12that's nice swivels it's Farhan
15:16he's rattling away
15:18yeah very good shot very controlled short for Han
15:20he's on 44 now that's important
15:24four runs on the pairs and worked away into a
15:28vacant area it's a huge gap
15:30they did fine
15:32looking for the yorker link the full link delivery but got it back
15:35well this could be it and he takes a blinder really is fantastic catch
15:45then the mover they're pushing himself
15:50and taking a really smart catch inches off the ground
15:54chief today is anything that we can go on for the red ball
15:56got involved the micron now taking back to back wickets here
16:04guzman khan has to go
16:08undone by extra bit of zip
16:16don't think the bowler was interested it's not given a wide so must have kissed something
16:20great over it's a double
16:29big shot now that's not worked exactly for barbaraza man he's done
16:35netherlands
16:37are making a fabulous comeback pakistan losing bit of marbles
16:41and what are we seeing unfold here i just said that babra azam would want
16:56i'm just offering a pre-warning here you got to be very very careful when you're running
17:00with navari two from 38
17:12always quick through the air and missed it completely
17:17opportunity for the dutch
17:20the catch is taken scott edwards is pumped and so are his players
17:24the massive breakthrough it's a huge wicket for netherland and look at the excitement
17:35is it down the left side it is long and fun bake
17:42there's a review but the dutch feel they have their man
17:45that's a massive hit all the way for six this is what pakistan need
17:57the pressure was telling and for him stepped up
18:00bit of relief for pakistan here boundary on the first wall and that too maximum
18:05he smashed that has for him this is excellent front for him he's taking it on
18:18he's in great nick he's a very good player for him ashraf two deliveries of the 19th
18:22over slow ball maybe the big one yes the biggest of the lot into the sands third six of the over
18:30you've already edge another boundary
18:4024 runs from the over three big
18:46four to win and four it is as pakistan beat netherlands in a tense finish here in colombo
18:54third victory over the dutch in men's t20 world cups
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