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
24.2
FOUR! Saqib Zulfiqar to Saud Shakeel. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Steer, well timed past third man for 4 runs.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
24.1
Saqib Zulfiqar to Saud Shakeel. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, to backward square leg for no runs, fielded by Dutt.
Pakistan 135-3 (24) Rizwan 47 Shakeel 52, Van Beek 0-24 (5)
Another change for Netherlands as Van der Merwe makes way for the pace of Van Beek. A tidy first over back from the quick as Pakistan find just three off the over.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
23.6
Logan van Beek to Saud Shakeel. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot Steer, to third man for 1 run, fielded by Nidamanuru.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
23.5
Logan van Beek to Saud Shakeel. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot working, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by O'Dowd.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
23.3
Logan van Beek to Saud Shakeel. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot working, to square leg for no runs, fielded by O'Dowd.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
23.1
Logan van Beek to Saud Shakeel. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot Late Cut, to third man for 1 run, fielded by Nidamanuru.
Pakistan 132-3 (23) Rizwan 46 Shakeel 50, Singh 0-16 (2)
Shakeel gets down on one knee and smashes Singh back over his head for a boundary. And again! The same delivery and the same result as Pakistan find another boundary.
The number five finds a single off the last ball of the over to bring up his half-century. Just 32 balls it’s taken him and it’s a vital knock to re-energise this Pakistan batting innings after those early three wickets.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
22.6
Vikram Singh to Saud Shakeel. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot flick, to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Ackermann.
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