Cricket World Cup: Pakistan made to sweat before seeing of the Netherlands in Hyderabad
- Planet Sport writer
- 6 October 2023
Pakistan's bowlers came to the fore as they started their World Cup campaign with a 81-run victory over the Netherlands in Hyderabad on Friday.
The Dutch team had hopes of causing an upset after the dismissed the 1992 champions for 286 but the European side were then bowled out just 205.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf was the pick of Pakistan bowlers, with his 3/43, while fellow quick Hasan Ali picked up two wickets of his own.
Star all-rounder Bas de Leede top-scored for the Netherlands with 67, but his dismissal in the 34th over put an end to their chances of winning.
In the first innings, Pakistan slipped to 38-3 in the 10th over but two big partnerships, for the fourth and seventh wicket respectively, made sure they reached a middling total.
Both Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan managing 68 as the pair made up for a rare failure by skipper Babar Azam (5), while de Leede topped off a great individual game for the Dutch with his figures of 4/62.
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