Pakistan vs Netherlands LIVE: Result and reaction as Rauf takes three wickets and Babar Azam’s side win
Pakistan get their World Cup up and running with a convincing 81-run victory over the Netherlands
Pakistan secured a comprehensive 81-run victory against a battling Netherlands to kickstart their World Cup campaign. Babar Azam’s side were in trouble after falling to 38-3 in the early stages but half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Rizwan saw them recover to post 286 after 49 overs.
Netherlands started brightly in their chase as Bas de Leede and Vikram Singh both reached their half-centuries as part of a 70-run stand. But when Singh fell, the Dutch middle order failed to provide support for De Leede who eventually fell for 67, with Scott Edward’s side losing their last 8 wickets for 85 runs as they were bowled out for 205.
Relive all of the match action and catch up on all the reaction below. Get the latest match odds and tips here.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
37.2
Hasan Ali to Paul van Meekeren. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot Fended, Play and Miss (Leg Side) for no runs, fielded by Rizwan.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
37.1
OUT! Bowled. Hasan Ali to Aryan Dutt. Length ball, off stump on the front foot working, hit pad.
WICKET! Dutt b Ali 1 (PAK 184-9)
Cleaned him up!
Ali comes back into the attack and is straight into the wickets as he bowls Dutt with his first delivery. A bit of movement off the pitch as the ball deflects off the pads and onto the stumps.
Netherlands nine down now and surely closing in on defeat here.
Netherlands 184-8 (37) Van Beek 16, Dutt 0, Shadab 1-45 (8) target 287
Back to the spin at both ends for Pakistan as Shadab comes into the attack. Pakistan will be after two more quick wickets to wrap this up but Van Beek has other ideas!
A huge six - down on one leg - flies into the crowd. That was some hit.
Eight off the over after that thunderous blow.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
36.6
Shadab Khan to Logan van Beek. Leg spinner length ball, off stump on the back foot pushing, mis-timed to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Azam.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
36.4
SIX! Shadab Khan to Logan van Beek. Leg spinner length ball, off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air under control over long on for 6 runs.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
36.3
Shadab Khan to Logan van Beek. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, to backward point for no runs, fielded by Rauf.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
36.2
Shadab Khan to Aryan Dutt. Leg spinner back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot driving, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Afridi.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
36.1
Shadab Khan to Logan van Beek. Leg spinner half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Afridi.
WICKET! Van der Merwe run out 4 (NED 176-8)
Another ones goes as Van der Merwe is well out of his ground. He tries to set off for a quick single, forgetting that his partner, Van Beek, is struggling to run. He gets halfway down before turning back but it’s far too late by then and he’s comfortably run out.
That’s the end of the 36th over and Netherlands are now 176-8. That doesn’t look great for the men in orange.
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