Pakistan beat Netherlands by 81 runs in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
Haris Rauf took three wickets Pakistan’s bowlers dismissed Netherlands for 205, but the Dutch put up a brave fight in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pakistan have opened their ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 campaign with an 81-run win over the Netherlands but not before a determined Dutch side gave Babar Azam’s team a scare at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad. Fast bowler Haris Rauf took three wickets to wrap up the Dutch innings in 41 overs in the south Indian city on Friday.
All-rounder Bas de Leede shone for the Netherlands as he top-scored for his side with 67 runs after taking four wickets earlier on. Dutch opener Vikramjit Singh scored 52 runs and was involved in a 70-run partnership with de Leede that threatened to hand Pakistan a shock loss in their first game.
Cricket fever is back with Emirates as Official Airline Partner of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023
Pakistan’s fast bowlers, including Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi took six wickets between them to give their side a winning start to the tournament. Spinners Shadab Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz took one apiece. Earlier, Pakistan were bowled out for 286 in an innings that featured half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.
De Leede finished with 4-62 to bring the Netherlands back into the game after Shakeel struck an attractive 52-ball 68 and Rizwan’s 75-ball 68 had boosted Pakistan after they were sent in to bat.
The Netherlands justified the decision to bowl first as pacer Logan van Beek had out-of-form opener Fakhar Zaman caught and bowled for 12 in the fourth over.
Spinner Colin Ackermann then claimed the prized wicket of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam for five before Paul van Meekeren dismissed Imam-ul-Haq for 15 to leave Pakistan tottering at 38-3.
PTCL ‘SHOQ’ to stream ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with Ad Free Experience
