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Pakistan edges past Netherlands by 16-runs to go 1-0 up in the series


image-l6wi4ghaPakistan took 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.

Pakistan rode Fakhar Zaman's scintillating century and three-wicket hauls from Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah each to nose out the Netherlands by 16-runs in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. 

Batting first, riding on Fakhar Zaman's century and skipper Babar Azam's fifty, Pakistan huffed and puffed their way to 314 runs for the loss of six wickets in their stipulated 50 overs.

Netherlands, in reply, gave a spirited fightback to Pakistan's well-oiled bowling lineup. However, the wickets kept tumbling at crucial junctures to eventually see the hosts fall short by 16 runs. 

Netherlands' valiant fight 

image-l6whxsadNetherlands gave a spirited fightback to Pakistan

Chasing a colossal target of 315, the Netherlands were jolted immediately losing Max O' Dowd for one in the second over. Wesley Barresi (2) was next to go and the pressure on the home nation ramped up with the scoreboard reading 2-24. 

Bas de Leede also couldn't stay longer in the middle and was bettered by Mohammad Wasim for 16. Amid the ruins, the young opener Vikramjit Singh stood tall and engaged in several partnerships before eventually perishing off in the 33rd over for 65. 

Tom Cooper and Scott Edwards looked in sublime touch and kept the hosts alive in the contest, with the former scoring 65 off 54. However, as the target appeared to beout of reach, they didn't give up and went on to play all the 50 overs to take some positives from the match. 

Skipper Edwards played a sumptuous inning and remained unbeaten for 71 as the Netherlands eventually wrapped up to 298 for 8 in 50 overs and lost the match by 16 runs. 

For the visitors, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah were the chief annihilators with the ball, picking three wickets each. Mohammad Waseem and Mohammad Nawaz had one brace apiece. 

Fakhar Zaman- Babar Azam powers Pakistan to 314

Earlier, Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steered Pakistan's innings to help the team post 314 for 6. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, the visitors were dealt with an early blow as they lost opener Imam-ul-Haq for just 2 runs. 

However, his fellow partner Fakhar Zaman stood firm and engineered a belligerent inning to put on a 168-run partnership with skipper Babar Azam to provide Pakistan with a dazzling start. 

Fakhar, in the process, drifted to his century and set the tone for the incoming batters to finish things on a rousing note. The southpaw played a whirlwind knock of 109 runs from as many deliveries.

Skipper Babar Azam also launched an onslaught with the willow and welted another half-century. His 85-ball 74-run knock was studded with 6 fours and a six. 

Agha Salman (27no off 16) and Shadab Khan (48no off 28) played valuable cameos at the backend to help Pakistan breach the 300-run mark.

The Dutchmen were pretty ordinary with the ball, especially in the middle and death overs, where they ended up conceding way too many runs. 

Bas de Leede was the pick of the bowlers, picking two wickets for 42 in his quota of 10 overs. Logan van Beek also had two to his name while Vivian Kingma chipped in with one. However, all of them came very expensively with the ball. 

Brief Score:

Pakistan: 314/6 (50 Overs) 

Fakhar Zaman 109 (109), Babar Azam 74 (85);
Bas de Leede 2-42 (10), Logan van Beek 2-89 (10) 

Netherlands: 298/8 (50 Overs) 

Scott Edwards 71 (60)*, Tom Cooper 65 (54);
Haris Rauf 3-67 (10), Naseem Shah 3-51 (10) 

Pakistan won by 16 runs.

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