Pakistan Vs Netherlands, ICC Cricket World Cup: Babar Azam & Co Show Their Class In Comprehensive Win

Pakistan defeated Netherlands in their first match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 by 81 runs. Babar Azam was invited to bat first by the Netherlands captain Scott Edwards. Pakistan put up a total of 286 runs thanks to Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel's gritty 68-run knocks. Top-order did not contribute much to that. Netherlands in response started well but could not manage any partnership at the crease. Only Bas de Leede and opener Vikramjit Singh passed the 50-run mark. But still, the Netherlands were 81 runs shy of the target. Catch PAK Vs NED highlights from here (Scorecard | Streaming | Preview | Full Coverage)

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Pakistan won by 81 runs

9:25 pm: Pakistan wins the match by 81 runs
Haris Rauf bowled the Meekeren to finish the Netherlands batting. Logan van Beek remains not out on 28 off 28 balls.

NED - 205/10 (41)

9:00 pm: Pakistan need two wickets now
Pakistan bowlers have bowled very well so far and have not let the Netherlands score runs. Wickets in quick successions have put the Netherlands on the back foot. Bas de Leede scored fighting 67 off 68.

NED - 184/8 (37)

8:15 pm: The Dutch batting order collapsed
Bas de Leede is the lone man standing on one side. No other batter is giving him any support. With the wicket falling from the other end, the Netherlands team is struggling for runs here at the moment. Pakistan have bowled well so far and is continuing with the same plan. Saqib Zulfiqar is on the crease with Leede. Both need to make a partnership now.

NED - 146/5 (29)

7:21 pm: Dutch batters going slow to the target
Bas de Leede and Vikramjit Singh are going towards the target with ease. Keeping themselves busy with singles and doubles have been the key so far for Dutch batters. Pakistan needs another breakthrough here.

NED - 80/2 (17)

6:48 pm: Pakistan pacers testing Netherlands batters
Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi are testing the Netherlands batting order with pace and swing at the moment. After losing the wicket of Max ODowd, run rate have fallen but new batter Colin Ackermann and Vikramjit Singh are finding ways to keep the scoreboard busy.

NED - 40/1 (9)

6:10 pm: Netherlands start the chase!!
Ma ODowd and Vikramjit Singh are opening for the Netherlands and have given a good start to the chase. Pakistan is looking for early wickets to put pressure on the Netherlands.

NED - 20/0 (3.3)

Innings Break!!

Netherlands need 287 runs in 300 balls

5:40 pm: Pakistan all out for 286
Pakistan's tail added very crucial runs after the early wickets of the top-order batsmen. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi made some runs at the end and posted a score of 286 on the board. After Shadeab and Nawaz's wicket fell, it was a matter of time for the other batters. But somehow Pakistan has put up a fighting total against the Netherlands.

PAK - 286/10 (49)

5:00 pm: Shadab and Nawaz's Partnership is of 50*(57)
Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz are adding some crucial runs for Pakistan here. Their partnership is now 50 runs off 57 balls. Pakistan needs to play all 50 overs to set up a big total in this match.

PAK - 244/6 (42)

4:32 pm: Rizwan is Out! Iftikhar also departs!
Mohammad Rizwan loses his wicket to Bas de Leede. That was a dreamy bowl from Leede. It hits the top of the stump. Rizwan can't believe it. Mohammad Nawaz joins Iftikhar Ahmed on the crease. Iftikhar also departs! Horrible collapse from Pakistan. Shadab Khan is the new batter.

PAK - 188/6 (33)

4:20 pm: Shakeel departs, Iftikhar comes to Crease
Saud Shakeel goes after making a gritty 68 off 52 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed joins Mohammad Rizwan at the crease. Rizwan is looking in fine touch and adding runs with ease. A partnership is in the making, taking the scorecard close to 200 runs.

PAK -177/5 (31)

3:50 pm: Rizwan-Shakeel making a good partnership
Mohammad Rizwan 50*(58) and Saud Shakeel 58*(41) have soaked in all the pressure and now their partnership reaches 106*(97). Both are settled on the pitch and are making runs as it is not a big deal. Pakistan is in a comfortable situation now.

PAK - 144/3 (25.1)

3:22 pm: Rizwan and Shakeel adding runs
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel are making a crucial partnership in the middle for Pakistan and rotating strike. They are keeping the fielders busy and making small but easy runs from the overs without taking any risks. The partnership is 60 runs now.

PAK - 98/3 (19)

3:00 pm: Pakistan on track after early wickets
Babar Azam could not make much today and gets trapped in Ackermann's web. The top 3 batters are back to the pavilion and Pakistan is fully dependent on their middle order for now. Mohammad Rizwan 22*(21) and Saud Shakeel 16*(11) are in the middle.

PAK - 72/3 (14)

2:20 pm: Babar Azam gets off the mark!
Aryan Dutt bowls another good over and Babar Azam is taking his time to set on the crease. Pakistan looking for a partnership here.

PAK - 18/1 (5)

2:15 pm: Fakhar Zaman Goes!!
Logan van Beek strikes back. After being hit for two consecutive boundaries in the last over, van Beek gets the wicket of dangerous Fakhar Zaman. Pakistan loses the first wicket. Babar Azam is the new man in.

PAK - 16/1 (4)

2:12 pm: Aryan Dutt back into the attack
Aryan Dutt bowls very well after Zaman hits a few boundaries. Pakistan is not making any haste and both batters are looking very poised at the moment.

PAK - 15/0 (3)

2:08 pm: Fakhar Zaman is dealing in boundaries
Logan van Beek gets the second over and is welcomed by Zaman with consecutive fours. Pakistan is off to a good start.

PAK - 13/0 (2)

2:00 pm: Pakistan batting starts!
It is Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq as openers for the Pakistan and Ball is in the hands of Aryan Dutt. Aryan bowls the first five bowls in control but gets hit for a boundary on the last. Pakistan is off the mark with a four.

PAK - 4/0 (1)

1:45 pm: Netherlands won the toss and elected to bowl first

Teams:

Pakistan (Playing XI): Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam(c), Mohammad Rizwan(w), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf

Netherlands (Playing XI): Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Colin Ackermann, Scott Edwards(w/c), Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Meekeren

Squads:

Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Afridi, Saud Shakeel, Agha Salman, Usama Mir, Abdullah Shafique

Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Wesley Barresi, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Bas de Leede, Colin Ackermann, Teja Nidamanuru, Roelof van der Merwe, Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Paul van Meekeren, Ryan Klein, Aryan Dutt, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Shariz Ahmad