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
34.2
Shaheen Afridi to Logan van Beek. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, to deep backward point for 2 runs, fielded by Ali.
Netherlands 165-7 (34) Van Beek 1, Van der Merwe 2, Nawaz 1-29 (6) target 287
Van Beek is next in but there’s so much to be done now for these two. Babar Azam’s changes with his bowlers have worked fantastically in this match and his team are right on top in this contest now.
Just two runs but the all-important wicket of De Leede in that over.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.6
Mohammad Nawaz to Roelof van der Merwe. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump on the front foot reverse sweeping, to backward point for no runs, fielded by ul-Haq.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.5
Mohammad Nawaz to Logan van Beek. Stock ball half volley, middle stump on the front foot working, to long on for 1 run, fielded by Rauf.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.4
Mohammad Nawaz to Logan van Beek. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Azam.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.3
Mohammad Nawaz to Logan van Beek. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Azam.
WICKET! De Leede b Nawaz 67 (NED 164-7)
A huge wicket!
De Leede departs and that could be that. Nawaz gets one to turn and bounce as it beats the batsman’s edge and smashes into the stumps. The Dutch youngster has been superb today with ball and bat but he has to depart and Netherlands have a mountain to climb now.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.2
OUT! Bowled. Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, missed.
Pakistan vs Netherlands
33.1
Mohammad Nawaz to Roelof van der Merwe. Stock ball half volley, middle stump on the front foot working, to mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Ahmed.
Netherlands 163-6 (33) De Leede 67, Van der Merwe 1, Shaheen 1-28 (6) target 287
Van der Merwe is the new man at the crease. He’s produced some handy cameo knocks for Netherlands and Somerset in his time but he’ll need a big innings here tonight to get Netherlands over the line.
De Leede is still hanging around, though, as he crunches another glorious straight drive to the ropes for four.
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