Haris Rauf takes three wickets as Pakistan’s bowlers dismiss Netherlands for 205, but the Dutch put up a valiant fight in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan kickstarts their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 81-run victory over Netherlands, although not without a determined Dutch side giving Babar Azam’s team a scare at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf shines with three wickets, wrapping up the Dutch innings in 41 overs in the vibrant Indian city on Friday.
All-rounder Bas de Leede steals the spotlight for the Netherlands as he top-scores for his team with 67 runs and earlier takes four wickets.
Dutch opener Vikramjit Singh contributes 52 runs and partners with de Leede in a threatening 70-run partnership that nearly hands Pakistan a surprising loss in their first game.
Pakistan’s fast bowlers, including Rauf, Hasan Ali, and Shaheen Shah Afridi, claim six wickets collectively, setting the stage for a victorious start in the tournament.
Spinners Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Mohammad Nawaz also contribute with a wicket each.
Pakistan, batting first, were dismissed for 286 in an innings highlighted by half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.
De Leede finishes with figures of 4-62, bringing the Netherlands back into the game after Shakeel’s impressive 52-ball 68 and Rizwan’s 75-ball 68 had uplifted Pakistan’s innings after being put in to bat.
The Netherlands justifies their decision to bowl first when pacer Logan van Beek dismisses out-of-form opener Fakhar Zaman for 12 in the fourth over.
Spinner Colin Ackermann then claims the prized wicket of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for five, followed by Paul van Meekeren dismissing Imam-ul-Haq for 15, leaving Pakistan struggling at 38-3.
Shakeel and Rizwan, in their World Cup debut, stabilize the innings with a solid 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but three wickets fall in the span of 24 balls for 30 runs.
Pakistan’s spirits are lifted as Mohammad Nawaz (39) and Shadab Khan (32) contribute with a crucial 64-run partnership for the seventh wicket, but de Leede dismisses Shadab and Hasan Ali off successive deliveries.
Nawaz is run out in the 47th over before Haris Rauf’s dismissal off Ackermann concludes Pakistan’s innings in 49 overs.
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