A near full-strength Pakistan ODI team barely managed to avoid a close call against 15th ranked team in the format, Netherlands. A team against which England created several records, Babar Azam-led Pakistan were given a reality check. Before this clash, Pakistan had beaten Netherlands in a dominating fashion. This was the first time an ODI clash between Pakistan vs Netherlands was alive till the slog overs.
At the start of Netherlands run chase, it looked like the old story will repeat itself but at the end, they evaded an embarrassing loss with a 16-run victory. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah struck with the new ball. Max ODowd and Wesley Barresi got out for a single-digit score. Bas de Leede did not impress either and scored 16 runs from 30 deliveries before getting out lbw.
From 62/3, opener Vikramjit Singh took the cautious approach whereas Tom Cooper kept the game alive. The 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket kept Pakistan bowlers nervous. Cooper scored 65 runs from 54 deliveries including six fours and two sixes. Rauf got his wicket in the 31st over. Nawaz got the wicket of Vikramjit. He scored 65 runs from 98 deliveries.
With half of their side back in the pavilion, Netherlands were expected to suffer a massive defeat. Scott Edwards decided not to surrender. Edwards shared crucial partnerships with Teja Nidamanuru (15) and Logan van Beek (28). However, in the end, it became too tough a job to be pulled off single-handedly. Naseem and Rauf's timely strikes prevented hosts from taking the run chase deep.
Edwards remained not out for 71 off 60 deliveries including six fours and one six. The Dutch managed to post 298/8 in the run chase, their highest ODI total against Pakistan by far. In the absence of an injured Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan bowling lineup did not look lethal and leaked too many boundaries.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper won the toss and opted to bat first. Imam-ul-Haq struggled to rotate the strike and his miserable stay at the crease was ended by Vivian Kingma. Zaman and Azam shared a 168-run partnership for the second wicket to lay a platform for big total.
Azam continued his rich vein of form and scored 74 runs from 85 deliveries. Zaman completed his century but could not carry on. The opener got run out for a run-a-ball 109. The southpaw hit 12 fours and one six in his century knock.
Before the slog overs, Mohammad Rizwan (14) and Khushdil Shah (21) got starts but could not convert them. Mohammad Nawaz could not do the damage either and got out for a single-digit score.
In the slog overs, Shadab Khan and Agha Salman helped Pakistan finish in style. Shadab missed his half-century and remained unbeaten for 28-ball 48 including four fours and two sixes. On the other end, Salman remained not out for 16-ball 37 which included three boundaries. They shared a 48-run partnership for the seventh wicket from just 25 deliveries.
Pakistan posted 314/6 on the board. Log van Beek turned out to be the most expensive bowler despite taking the wickets of Azam and Khushdil. He conceded 89 runs in his quota of 10 overs.
