Netherlands loses first World Cup match to Pakistan: 286-205
Published at 06 October, 2023Despite a strong start, the Dutch men’s team was unable to win their first World Cup encounter with Pakistan on Friday. The Pakistanis made 286 runs. The Dutch (205) were on course for a sensation for a considerable time, but the fall of a number of important wickets tilted the match.
Winning the toss meant fielding first, and a fine start from offspinner Aryan Dutt. The first Dutch success came in the fourth over when Logan van Beek caught Fakhar Zaman off his own bowling. The euphoria was even greater when superstar Babar Azam was well caught at mid wicket by Saqib Zulfiqar off Colin Ackermann's bowling, and there was more pressure on the Pakistanis when Van Meekeren surprised Imam with his very first (short) delivery. Dutt almost didn't have to move at deep backward square: 38/3 in the tenth over.
Shakeel and Muhammad Rizwan had to restore the innings. Dutt, who bowled excellently (1-48/10) was unlucky when an inside edge and a difficult dropped slipcatch both resulted in boundaries. It turned out to be the prelude to a big partnership, as it was only on 158 that the fourth wicket fell (Saud Shakeel 68). On the same personal score, Rizwan saw Bas de Leede break through his defence - and Pakistan had lost half of its batting side.
A 64-run partnership for seventh wicket was broken by Bas de Leede (4-62) and Hasan Ali was trapped in front facing his first ball. The hat-trick ball - a yorker - was only just kept out of the wicket by Shaheen Afridi. 286 was the end result as Scott Edwards caused the final wicket with his moment of brilliance (a great stumping off Ackermann).
Netherlands innings
The effective opening duo of O'Dowd and Singh got to 28 before O'Dowd mistimed a bouncer from Hasan Ali. It was 50/2 in the twelfth over when Ackermann, who seemed in good form, wanted to sweep Iftikhar's very first delivery and was bowled behind the legs. Vikram Singh (52) made a wonderful half-century until he mistimed a googly from Shadab (120/3). His partnership with Bas de Leede was 70 runs for the third wicket.
Teja Nidamanuru was unlucky to hit a short ball from Haris Rauf straight into the hands of Zaman. Two balls later, Edwards (LBW) also had to go. Iftikhar could have given Rauf his third wicket from the over, but he wasted the straightforward slip catch that Saqib Zulfiqar offered. Moments later, however, Saqib (10) was plumb LBW off Afridi and De Leede (67) also had to bow his head (164/7/33.2).
Van Beek appeared to be struggling with a hamstring injury. A run out (Van der Merwe) was therefore lurking. Van Meekeren had a seemingly unfriendly chat with 140 km/h gun Haris Rauf and had to pay for it with a cartwheeling legstump as the curtain fell on 205. For Pakistan, Rauf excelled with 3-43.
On Monday, October 9, the Netherlands will take on New Zealand, which crushed reigning world champion England with nine wickets. YuppTV broadcasts all matches, a World Cup package costs about 25 euros.
Photo credit: ICC/Getty
