Pakistan vs Netherland: GreenTeam kicked off their World Cup campaign with an 81-run triumph over the Netherlands on Friday.
Wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel both delivered outstanding performances in their World Cup debut. Both players contributed 68 runs for the team.
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The Pakistan team managed to score a total of 287 runs after losing three early wickets.
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On this victorious occasion, Pakistan Team Captain Babar Azam expressed his satisfaction, saying:
“I am satisfied with the result. Credit goes to the bowlers; we got off to a strong start and took crucial wickets in the middle. Although we lost three wickets while batting, the way Rizwan and Shakeel began their innings really made the difference.”
From the Netherlands side, De Leede played a pivotal role by taking 4 wickets for 62 runs to impede Pakistan’s quest for a substantial total, especially after they asked to bat on a flat Rajiv Gandhi Stadium pitch.
Furthermore, De Leede displayed his batting prowess by guiding his team’s innings with a skillful 68-ball 67, featuring two sixes and six boundaries.
However, when he was clean-bowled by spinner Mohammad Nawaz in the 34th over, the Dutch team, who were 120-2 at one point, began to struggle.
The Netherlands faced early setbacks, losing Max O’Dowd for just five runs and Colin Ackermann for 17.
However, de Leede and opener Vikramjit Singh, who scored 52 runs off 67 balls, initiated a recovery with a 70-run partnership for the third wicket. Singh, who hit four boundaries and a six, caught out by spinner Shadab Khan.
Pacer Haris Rauf then removed Teja Nidamanuru for five and opposing captain Scott Edwards, who failed to score, finishing with figures of 3-43.
Logan van Beek contributed with a run-a-ball 28, featuring three boundaries and a six, to extend the resistance. However, Rauf dismissed Paul van Meekeren for seven, securing victory for his team.
“It’s a bit disappointing. We bowled and fielded well,” expressed Edwards. “We thought we had a good chance at 120-2. De Leede is a quality cricketer in all three departments. His innings were awesome; we just needed someone to support him.”
Earlier, Pakistan struggled in their match against the Netherlands, losing three wickets early on with a score of 38-3.
Shakeel and Rizwan, making their World Cup debut, steadied the innings with a solid 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket. However, three wickets fell in the span of 24 balls, adding 30 runs to Pakistan’s total.
Shakeel, who hit nine boundaries and a six, made an error in judgment with a sweep shot against spinner Aryan Dutt. De Leede then bowled Rizwan and dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed for nine runs. Rizwan had struck eight boundaries during his innings.
Nawaz and Shadab’s seventh-wicket partnership added 64 runs to Pakistan’s score. However, De Leede’s exceptional performance saw him dismiss Shadab and Hasan Ali on successive deliveries.
In the 47th over, Nawaz ran out, and Ackermann’s dismissal of Rauf concluded Pakistan’s innings in the 49th over.
Pakistan is scheduled to play its second match against Sri Lanka on October 10th at 1:30 PM (PST).
