A gutsy performance from the Netherlands but they failed to close the margin of the gap in the end. Pakistan bowlers did well to peg back at the right time and they would be a bit contented to see some win after the humiliating loss against India in Asia Cup.
For the Netherlands, it was a statement that they're not here to just enjoy and take the feel of the World Cup but they're here to create upsets. Maybe it's in the queue. Who knows!! But time will tell.
For now, tonight's World Cup chapter is closed. This is Arijit Kundu signing off on behalf of my co-commentators- AkshayaKrishna Polya, Sidharth Gulati, Akshay Bhide, and scorer/analysts- Zeeshan Naiyer and Raju Khariya.
Babar Azam (Pakistan Captain): "We got great support from the Hyderabad crowd. I'm satisfied with the team's performance. We took wickets in the middle overs and put pressure on Netherlands.
It worked. (On Saud Shakeel and M Rizwan) Good partnership. Proud of both the boys. The pacers are sticking to a plan."
Scott Edwards (Netherlands Captain):"Yeah, first, it's a little bit disappointing. Our guys bowled and fielded really well. We felt that when we were in 120-2 and we were well in the game. It's nice to have 7-8 options with the ball. Our bowlers did well we did have good spin options. Yeah, he [Bas de Leede] bowled very well. His innings was exceptional.
I haven't spoken to him [Logan van Beek]. But I think he is pretty keen to get out there [ on injury update].
Yeah, it is probably, one that gets away. I think we were in a pretty good position to get that game."
The record remains intact that none of the teams have chased down 280+ against Pakistan in World Cups.
Saud Shakeel (Player of the Match):"First of all, thanks to my dear Allah. I'm happy with my performance. I just try to follow the basics and try to score for the team.
I think nerves were there because we lost three wickets. But I got lucky as I got early boundaries. I think in the last 2-3 months, I've been working hard on my game. I knew that this was the position in which I was going to bat for Pakistan and I developed my game. Thanks to the support staff as well for helping me out.
(On being asked what he favors, spin or pace) I would prefer any as long as it gives me boundaries.
Thanks to the crowd as well. I would like to thank my coach as well and I would like to dedicate this award to him."
Player of the Match: Saud Shakeel
9:16 PM IST | End of the stare battle as Haris Rauf cleans up Paul van Meekeren to hit the final nail in the coffin. Pakistan finally got to taste some victory after their defeat against India in the Asia Cup.
Halfway through the innings, Pakistan did not have the cushion in this defense. But with good bowling changes from skipper, Babar Azam they managed to creep into the contest and snatched the ball from the Dutch court.
Vikramjit Singh started off with some elegant strokes after some outside edge scares in the first over off Shahen Afridi. Max O'Dowd could not get along with him for long as Hasan Ali shed the first blood for Pakistan. Colin Ackermann failed to convert his brisk start and Netherlands were 50-2 after 11.1 overs. It was Iftikhar Ahmed, the part-timer to extract this wicket.
Bas de Leede has been batting in the middle order for quite some time and came at no. 4. He caressed some fantastic strokes while Vikramjit paced off his innings post the fall of wickets. The pair managed to score their individual half-centuries and glued 70 runs together. The partnership gave some real chills to the Men in Maroon who constantly made an effort to fragment the stand.
Shadab Khan broke the stand while Haris Rauf followed it up with a breath-taking spell removing Teja Nidamanuru and Scott Edwards in quick time. Some extraordinary bowling followed up from Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi. The lower middle-order failed to glow and it was Logan van Beek hanging around till the end.
However, a point to note is that there was some stare battle between Haris Rauf and Paul van Meekeren before the final wicket was blown. A boundary did come from the Dutch no. 11 but Rauf had the last laugh in the end.
Earlier, Pakistan were in a spot of bother at the start of the match when the scoreboard read 38-3. Logan van Beek, Colin Ackermann, and Paul van Meekeren ensured that the top three get sent back to the hut early.
Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel stabilized the ship with a brilliant 100+ runs stand for the fourth wicket. Both batters managed to get 68 runs before getting dismissed halfway through the second powerplay. It was Aryan Dutt with the big breakthrough and Bas de Leede cleaned up Rizwan in the 32nd over.
Just when the Men in Orange looked to make further inroads, the all-rounder pair of Nawaz (39) and Shadab (32) ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking. 100 runs came from the last five batters with the odd one being Hasan Ali getting dismissed for a golden duck. Bas was the peak of the bowlers with a four-for under his name.
Stay tuned for the post-match presentation ceremony and player quotes.