Pakistan beat the Netherlands by runs in the second game of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in Hyderabad on Friday. Bas de Leede's all-round performance was the highlight of the encounter between a traditional powerhouse and the associate team. The Dutchman picked up four wickets and later scored 67 runs from 68 balls, but failed to carry his team all the way.
Sent to bat first, Pakistan made 286 runs before being bowled out by the Netherlands, who played their first ODI World Cup game since 2007. Netherlands were then bowled out for 205 in 41 overs. Opener Vikramjit Singh (52 off 67) was the only top-order batter apart from Bas de Leede who could resist the Pak bowling attack led by Shahin Afridi, Haris Rauf and Hassan Ali.
On a slightly tacky pitch, Netherlands pacer Bas de Leede (4/62) checked Pakistan's batters with a good spell. De Leede then returned to make a brave 67 off 68 balls but Pakistan bowlers led by Hasan Ali and Harris Rauf, who grabbed five wickets among them, warded off Dutch challenge.
The Dutch looked on course for a stunning win in Hyderabad at one stage as Vikramjit Singh (52) and Bas de Leede (67) got going, but Pakistan kept chipping away to dismiss the underdogs for 205 in 41 overs.Haris Rauf (3-43) finished the job by bowling out Paul van Meekeren.
Pakistan's bowling, which was found wanting in the warm-up games, delivered in the middle-overs.
Haris Rauf (3/43) hurried the middle-order duo of Teja Nidamanuru and Scott Edwards to strike twice in the 27th over.
Shaheen Afridi trapped Saqib Zulfikar in front with a fast and full ball to make it 158 for six and when left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz dismissed De Leede with a beauty, it was game over for the associate team in the competition.
Under fire vice-captain Shadab Khan also raised his game with the ball.
Earlier, Pakistan suffered two mini collapses in their innings, one at the top of the order and the other one after a 120-run stand off 114 balls between Mohammad Rizwan (68 off 75) and Saud Shakeel (68 off 52) for the fourth wicket.
While de Leede got the important breakthroughs in the middle-overs, off-spinners Aryan Dutt (1/48) and Colin Ackermann (2/39) got a lot out of the Hyderabad surface.
Playing their first World Cup game in 12 years, Netherlands used as many as eight bowling options after opting to field.
Dutt opened the bowling for Netherlands alongside Logan van Beek who got his outswing (inswing to the left-handers) going in the powerplay.
Pakistan were in a nervy state after losing Fakhar Zaman (12), skipper Babar Azam (5) and Imam Ul Haq (15) by the 10th over.
Van Beek had the out-of-form Fakhar caught and bowled before Ackermann got the prized wicket of Babar whose attempted pull landed straight into the hands of the mid-wicket fielder.
Paul van Meekran struck on his very first ball as his short ball got big on Iman who pulled it straight to fine-leg, leaving Pakistan at 38 for three.
Rizwan and Saud gave the innings much needed stability. Shakeel, playing only his seventh ODI, was particularly impressive against the spinners. His effort included nine fours and six via a slog sweep off Roelof Van der Merwe.
Bas broke the stand by removing Rizwan with a ball that cut back in to sneak through the batters' defense.
From 188 for six, Mohammad Nawaz (39) and Shadab Khan (32) forged a 64-run partnership to take the team past 250.
Brief scores: Pakistan: 286 all out in 49 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 68, Saud Shakeel 68; Shadab Khan 32, Mohammad Nawaz 39; Bas de Leede 4/62) beat Netherlands: 205 all out in 41 overs (Bas de Leede 67, Harris Rauf 3/43, Hasan Ali 2/29)
