Pakistan Survive Scare as Faheem Ashraf's Late Onslaught Seals Tense Victory
In a heart-stopping encounter at the SSC ground, Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign was hanging by a thread before an extraordinary late intervention from all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. Chasing a modest target of 148 against the Netherlands, Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble, needing a miraculous finish to avoid an embarrassing early tournament exit.
A Costly Drop That Changed the Game
The turning point arrived on the second ball of the 19th over. Faheem Ashraf's mistimed slog seemed destined for Dutch hands, with Pakistan supporters already bracing for another World Cup disappointment. However, Netherlands fielder Max O'Dowd couldn't hold onto the catch, granting Ashraf a crucial reprieve that would prove decisive.
This moment of fortune ignited Pakistan's belief that victory could still be snatched from the jaws of defeat. Ashraf, a left-handed batsman reminiscent of India's Rahul Tewatia in his ability to target medium-pacers bowling within his hitting arc, seized the opportunity with both hands.
Dutch Inexperience Under Pressure
Netherlands pacer Logan van Beek's relative inexperience became glaringly apparent during the pressure-cooker situation. Instead of adapting to the slow pitch conditions, van Beek persisted with attempted yorkers that consistently missed their mark. This strategic error proved costly as Ashraf capitalized brilliantly, plundering 24 runs from the 19th over alone.
The explosive over reduced Pakistan's requirement to just five runs from the final six deliveries, a target they comfortably achieved with three balls to spare, securing a face-saving three-wicket victory.
Captain's Relief and Reality Check
"We'll have to do it the hard way," admitted captain Salman Ali Agha, visibly relieved after the narrow escape. However, the victory provided only temporary respite from deeper concerns about Pakistan's tournament prospects.
The performance exposed significant flaws in Pakistan's batting approach. Having reached 98-2 by the 11th over in pursuit of 147, the match should have been concluded comfortably by the 17th over. Instead, Pakistan suffered a dramatic collapse against opposition that rarely faces top-tier teams.
Middle-Order Woes Continue
The collapse bore unsettling similarities to Pakistan's batting failure in last September's Asia Cup final against India. The middle-order issues that plagued them then have persisted, arguably worsening with recent team selections.
Senior batsman Babar Azam's struggle was particularly concerning. His 18-ball 15 included a dismissal at a critical juncture when anchoring the innings was required. In a devastating 30-ball period, Pakistan lost four middle-order wickets for just 16 runs, nearly derailing their chase completely.
Tournament Implications and Looking Ahead
For those anticipating an India-Pakistan showdown next Sunday, this match provided anxious moments as Pakistan teetered on the brink of elimination. A loss would have forced them into a must-win situation in their February 15 fixture to keep World Cup hopes alive.
Ashraf's match-winning 29 not out from just 11 deliveries demonstrated his T20 experience and ability to capitalize when facing less-established opposition. While the victory keeps Pakistan's campaign alive, the performance highlighted significant areas requiring immediate improvement if they hope to progress deeper into the tournament.
Brief Scores: Netherlands 147 (Edwards 37; Mirza 3-24, Ayub 2-7) lost to Pakistan 148/7 (Farhan 47, Faheem 29*; van Meekeren 2-20, Dutt 2-33) by 3 wickets.
