HYDERABAD – Pakistan kicked off their ICC World Cup 2023 marketing campaign with an 81-run victory over the Netherlands in Hyderabad. A combined effort from Pakistan’s bowlers, supported by half-centuries from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, secured a convincing win for the group.
Regardless of a promising begin to their innings, the Netherlands struggled to take care of momentum and misplaced wickets at regular intervals, in the end being bowled out for a complete of 205 runs. Left-handed opener Vikramjit Singh and all-rounder Bas de Leede have been the standout performers for the Netherlands, scoring 52 and 67 runs, respectively. Pakistan’s bowling attack was relentless, with Hasan Ali and Haris Rauf taking two wickets every, and Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, and Iftikhar Ahmed every claiming one.
Pakistan confronted a difficult begin as they misplaced their prime three batsmen, Fakhar Zaman (12), Imam-ul-Haq (15), and Babar Azam (5), with simply 38 runs on the board in 9.1 overs. Nonetheless, wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan and younger expertise Saud Shakeel teamed as much as stage a exceptional restoration.
The duo displayed exceptional dedication, forging a 120- run partnership for the fourth wicket, with each reaching half-centuries. Saud Shakeel’s brilliant innings of 68 from 52 balls, laced with 9 boundaries and a six, was dropped at an finish by Aryan Dutt within the 29th over. Mohammad Rizwan, who additionally contributed 68 off 75 balls with eight boundaries, adopted swimsuit within the 32nd over.
Pakistan confronted one other setback when Bas de Leede dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed (9) in the identical over, decreasing them to 188/6. All-rounders Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz then mixed for a significant seventh-wicket accompliceship, including 64 runs to the full. Their efforts appeared to place Pakistan in management till Bas de Leede struck once more, dismissing Shadab within the 44th over after he scored 32 off 34 balls with two fours.
Within the closing overs, Pakistan misplaced two extra wickets in fast succession, with Mohammad Nawaz departing after a 43-ball 39. Tailenders Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed essential runs, including 19 runs to the full. Ackermann’s stumping of Shaheen Afridi restricted Pakistan to a below-par whole of their World Cup opener. Bas de Leede led the Netherlands’ bowling attack with figures of 4/62, supported by Ackermann’s 2/39, whereas Dutt, Logan van Beek, and Paul van Meekeren every claimed one wicket.