The Netherlands made a positive start to their innings at the Sinhalese Sports Club after they were asked to bat first as opener Michael Levitt thumped 24 off 15 balls.

Bas de Leede continued the momentum with a composed 25-ball 30 and, at 105-3 with he and Edwards at the crease, the Netherlands looked set to post a competitive total.

But the Associate nation lost their last six wickets for 20 runs as Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub picked up two wickets apiece.

Sahibzada Farhan’s classy 47 off 31 balls guided Pakistan to 98-2 before he slapped Aryan Dutt to cover to start a Pakistan collapse as Roelof van der Merwe and Paul van Meekeren bowled tightly.

Ashraf spared their blushes, though, when he hammered three sixes and a four off the penultimate over from Logan van Beek, the Netherlands missing a chance to dismiss him on seven when Max O’Dowd shelled a catch at long-off.

With five runs needed from the final over, bowled by De Leede, Ashraf got himself on strike then thrashed through cover for four to prevent a shock.