Srinagar: Pakistan made a fast start to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup by registering an impressive 81-run victory over the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
Hyderabad bore witness to a brilliant display from the Pakistan bowling attack in the second half of the Netherlands innings as the Dutch were all out for 205 in reply to Pakistan’s score of 286.
While the Dutch were still pretty much in contention of their pursuit of victory until midway through their chase, the Men in Green struck at regular intervals thereafter to take the game away from them.
Haris Rauf was the pick of Pakistan bowlers, with his 3/43, while Hasan Ali picked up two wickets of his own. Star all-rounder top-scored for the Netherlands with 67, but his dismissal in the 34th over put an end to their winning chances.
In the first innings, Pakistan were all out for 286 in 49 overs. Their innings was powered by two big partnerships, for the fourth and seventh wicket respectively, with both Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan managing 68.
The pair made up for a rare failure by skipper Babar Azam (5), while de Leede topped off a great individua game for the Dutch with his 4/62.