Match number 2 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 was played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. The Netherlands won the toss and elected to take the field first. This was the first time when Pakistan was playing in India and that too on such a big occasion. The stage was set for a good game as Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq stepped into the field to start the proceedings for Pakistan. On the other hand, Aryan Dutt was given the first over. Pakistan went off to a decent start but Van Beek took a catch on his own delivery to send Fakhar Zaman to the pavilion. Babar Azam joined Imam-ul-Haq in the middle as it was Babar’s first game on Indian Soil. But first Babar 5(18) and then Imam 15(19) were sent back to the pavilion by Ackermann and Meekeren respectively.
Pakistan were 38-3 when Saud Shakeel joined Mohammad Rizwan in the middle. Slow but steady, the pair started building a partnership. Rizwan was playing with utmost focus and care whereas Saud Shakeel took on the bowlers before departing for 68 runs in just 52 balls with the help of 9 boundaries and a six. The pair made a partnership of 120 runs and helped Pakistan to step out of the hurdle. Iftikhar joined the wicket-keeper, but Rizwan soon got cleaned up by Bas de Leede. He scored 68 runs with the help of 8 boundaries. Things were getting worse for Pakistan when Iftikhar got out on just 9 runs. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan rescued the team with 39 and 32 respectively. With Shaheen’s 13(12) and Haris’s 16(14), Pakistan set a fighting total of 286 against the inexperienced Netherlands.
Vikramjit Singh and Max ODowd started the proceedings for Netherlands but Hasan Ali soon sent Max back to the pavilion. Ackermann was then cleaned up by Iftikhar Ahmed on 17. The Netherlands were on 50 for 2 in 11.1 overs when Bas De Leede joined Vikramjit Singh in the middle. The pair started scoring runs at a good pace. They made a partnership of 70 runs as Vikramjit got trapped in Shadab’s delivery. Vikramjit made 52 runs in 67 balls with the help of 4 boundaries and a maximum.
The Netherlands were at 120-3 when Vikramjit Singh got out and they lost their next 7 wickets in just 85 runs. Pakistan sealed the game with their impressive bowling performance. Haris Rauf conceded 43 runs in 9 overs and took 3 important wickets. Hassan Ali took 2 wickets and Shaheen, Iftikhar, Nawaz, and Shadab took 1 wicket each.
Netherlands started well with the ball but it was Pakistan who crushed them down twice in the same match. Saud Shakeel was awarded Man of the Match for his blistering 68 runs with a strike rate of 130.77.
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