Babar Azam-led Pakistan had a few hiccups as they looked far from settled in every department of the game against the Netherlands but they managed to start with an 81-run win in Hyderabad. Half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel followed and a decent bowling display helped them outclass the minnows.
Earlier, Scott Edwards won the toss and opted to field first. Fakhar Zaman hit a few boundaries but got dismissed after handing an easy catch to Van Beek on follow-through. Skipper Babar struggled to find the gaps and the pressure got to him. He went for the pull shot against Colin Ackermann and got caught at short mid-wicket. He departed for a single-digit score. In the next over, Paul va Meekeren dismissed Imam-ul-Haq who miscued a pull shot. The top order was back in the hut after posting 38 runs on the board.
Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan stabilised the innings. They picked up pace against the spinners. Shakeel scored quickly and got to his half-century from just 32 deliveries. Rizwan reached his half-century from 58 balls in the 26th over. Just when they were looking solid in the middle, Aryan Dutt broke the partnership. Shakeel went for the big shot and got caught. He scored 68 runs from 52 balls including nine fours and one six. De Leede came back into the attack and got Rizwan's wicket with a delivery that nipped back in. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 68 runs from 75 balls including four fours. In the same over, he got the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed who departed for a single-digit score.
Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz stitched a partnership together after three quick wickets. After Pakistan crossed the 250-run mark, De Leede was brought back into the attack. Shadab played down the wrong line and got bowled for a 34-ball 32. On the very next ball, he got the wicket of Hasan Ali to push Pakistan on the back foot. Then Nawaz became victim to a comical runout. He scored 39 runs from 43 balls. In the penultimate over, Haris Rauf entertained with a four and a six. Rauf got out stumped as Pakistan were bowled out for 286. De Leede was the pick of the bowlers with a four-fer.
Netherlands' run chase got off to a good start. Vikramjit Singh played a few shots with exquisite timing to pierce the field. Ali was impressive with the new ball and he got the wicket of Max ODowd in the sixth over for a single-digit score. Ackermann hit a few boundaries but he fell victim to part-time off-spinner Iftikhar. De Leede picked up pace from the start and complimented the opener. Vikramjit attacked spinners and reached his half-century from 65 balls. In the 24th over, he paid the price for taking on Shadab's googly. He scored 52 runs from 67 balls.
Rauf came back into the attack and derailed Netherlands' run chase with the wickets of Teja Nidamanuru and Edwards. He almost got a third but Iftikhar dropped an easy catch at first slip. Van Beek reached his half-century from 50 balls in the next over. De Leede decided to attack and hit Rauf for a six. But he barely got support from Saqib Zulfiqar who got out lbw to Shaheen Afridi. Next over, De Leede's knock came to an end. He contributed with a 68-ball 67 which featured six fours and a couple of sixes.
The experienced Reolof van der Merwe could not do more damage and got run out for a single-digit score. Van Beek tried to minimise the damage but Ali came back into the attack to dismiss Dutt. Rauf took the last wicket to wrap up Netherlands’ innings in the 41st over as Pakistan won the game by 81 runs.
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