ISLAMABAD: In their World Cup 2023 debut, Pakistan made a strong start by securing an impressive 81 run victory over Netherlands at India’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Friday.
The Pakistan team made a strong comeback in the game, securing consecutive wickets and putting pressure on the Dutch batsmen.
Swift dismissals by the Pakistani bowlers disrupted the Dutch batting order after a relatively steady start.
As the game progressed, the Pakistani team disrupted a 50-run partnership. This partnership was between Bas de Leede and opener Vikramjit Singh, who had been anchoring the run chase. Vikramjit was dismissed for 52 off 67 balls.
Pakistan’s bowlers then took control, sending openers Max O’Dowd and Colin Ackermann back to the pavilion.
Despite Captain Babar Azam’s aspirations to reach a 300-run total, the Dutch opponents limited Pakistan to 286 by taking quick wickets.
The Pakistani batting lineup continued to struggle as the Dutch bowlers dominated the innings, thwarting Pakistan’s efforts to set a substantial target.
Haris Rauf managed to score two boundaries and a six before being stumped.
Earlier, the back-to-back dismissals of Hassan Ali and Shadab Khan put the team in a challenging position. They were attempting to maintain momentum for Pakistan.
The Dutch disrupted Pakistan’s efforts to recover from the quick dismissals of the top-order batsmen. They dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed for just 9 runs after a 100-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.
Top Pakistani batsmen Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Imam-ul-Haq were all dismissed within the first 10 overs, with Pakistan at 38/3.
Zaman was the first to fall, and the Pakistani captain also departed with only 5 runs to his name.
Later, Saud and Rizwan formed a partnership of 120 runs, pushing Pakistan to 162 before Netherlands’ Aryan Dutt dismissed Saud.
Pakistan’s World Cup Journey and Consistent Performance
During the toss, after winning, the Netherlands decided to field first.
Netherlands captain Scott Edwards expressed his belief that it would be easier to bat under the lights at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, hence his decision to bowl first.
Edwards mentioned that they had played against Pakistan frequently in recent years and were optimistic about their performance against the Green Shirts.
On the other hand, Pakistani captain Babar Azam stated that they aimed to set a target in the range of 290-300.
This marks the seventh meeting between Pakistan and the Netherlands in an ODI. Pakistan has won all six previous encounters, with their first meeting taking place in the 1996 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Moreover, Pakistan toured the Netherlands last year for their first bilateral series, securing a clean sweep.
Pakistan enters the 50-over World Cup as one of the favorites. In the recently concluded World Cup cycle, the team has secured an impressive win-loss ratio of 2.400. This remarkable record includes victory in 24 out of 36 matches.
Key players consistently emerging as reliable performers over the years have contributed to the team’s consistent performance.
Playing XI:
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max O’Dowd, Colin Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Teja Nidamanuru, Scott Edwards (wk, c), Saqib Zulfiqar, Logan van Beek, Roelof van der Merwe, Aryan Dutt, Paul van Mee
