Pakistan beat Netherlands by 81 runs in their opening match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. It was a comprehensive victory for Pakistan, who were led by a brilliant half-century from Fakhar Zaman and a five-wicket haul from Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan were the favorites going into the match, and they justified their tag with a dominant performance. They won the toss and elected to bat, and they got off to a good start thanks to a half-century from Zaman. Babar Azam, who struck a reliable 42, provided strong assistance for Zaman.
Following the dismissals of Zaman and Azam, Pakistan lost more wickets quickly. However, they were able to recover thanks to a late cameo from Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 33 runs off 24 balls. Pakistan finished their innings on 290/7, which was a good score on a difficult pitch.
The Netherlands’ pursuit got off to a poor start, and in the 10th over, they were down at 44/3. Afridi was the wrecker-in-chief, and he took three wickets in his first four overs.
The Netherlands batsmen tried to fight back, but they were unable to keep up with the required run rate. They were eventually bowled out for 209 in the 42nd over, and Pakistan won the match by 81 runs.
Pakistan’s batting performance
Pakistan’s batting performance was the key to their victory over the Netherlands. They scored a good total of 290/7 on a difficult pitch, and they were able to put the Netherlands under pressure from the start.
Fakhar Zaman was the star of the show for Pakistan with the bat. He scored a brilliant 83 runs off 78 balls, and he was the main reason why Pakistan got off to a good start. Zaman was well supported by Babar Azam, who scored a steady 42.
The Netherlands bowlers did well to contain Pakistan in the middle overs, but Mohammad Rizwan was able to accelerate the scoring rate in the death overs. He scored 33 runs off 24 balls, and he helped Pakistan to finish their innings on a high.
Pakistan’s bowling performance
Pakistan’s bowling performance was also excellent against the Netherlands. They took wickets at regular intervals, and they were able to put pressure on the Netherlands batsmen throughout the innings.
The star of the show for Pakistan with the ball was Shaheen Shah Afridi. In his 10 overs, he had five wickets for 29 runs and was occasionally unplayable. Haris Rauf, who claimed two wickets for 42 runs, provided strong support for Afridi.
The Netherlands batsmen tried to fight back, but they were unable to keep up with the required run rate. They were eventually bowled out for 209 in the 42nd over, and Pakistan won the match by 81 runs.
In conclusion:
Pakistan’s victory over the Netherlands was a comprehensive one. They dominated the match with both bat and ball, and they were never in any danger of losing.
Pakistan’s success was largely due to their batting performance. On a challenging field, they managed to score a respectable total of 290/7 and put the Netherlands under immediate pressure.
Pakistan’s bowling performance was also excellent against the Netherlands. They took wickets at regular intervals, and they were able to put pressure on the Netherlands batsmen throughout the innings.
In their upcoming match against England, Pakistan will try to build on this success. They are among the favorites to win the World Cup, and they plan to compete until the very end.
Additional thoughts:
Pakistan’s World Cup campaign got off to a strong start with their victory over the Netherlands. They demonstrated their strength as a team by having a nice balance between their bowling and batting.
However, Pakistan will need to be at their best in their next match against England. England are one of the strongest teams in the world, and they will be a tough opponent.
If Pakistan can beat England, they will be well on their way to reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup. They have a good team, and they have the potential to go all the way.