Opener Fakhar Zaman hit his seventh one-day worldwide century to steer Pakistan to a 16-run victory within the first of a three-match sequence Tuesday towards the Netherlands in Rotterdam. Pakistan received the toss and elected to bat in heat and humid circumstances on a day the place large scores have been anticipated on a sluggish pitch on the VOC Cricket Membership outdoors the Dutch harbour metropolis. The vacationers nevertheless received off to a gradual begin earlier than posting a commanding 314-6 after 50 overs.
Regardless of a valiant run chase, the Dutch completed on 298-8 towards a spirited Pakistani workforce, backed by a myriad of vocal supporters.
Zaman carved out a run-a-ball 109 whereas captain Babar Azam hit 74 earlier than being caught after mistiming a supply from Dutch paceman Logan van Beek.
The house bowlers initially contained Pakistan’s batting, with the guests shedding their first wicket, that of dangerman Imam-ul-Haq, lbw to paceman Vivian Kingma within the sixth over for a painstaking two off 19 balls.
However Zaman and Azam finally let unfastened and placed on a partnership of 168 off 170 balls earlier than Azam was caught in a smooth dismissal when he mistimed a shot into the ready fingers of Tom Cooper at mid-off.
Zaman was dismissed two overs later when he was brilliantly run out by Dutch captain and wicketkeeper Scott Edwards off a pin-point correct throw by Bas de Leede at deep mid-wicket.
Pakistan appeared set for a bigger whole however the Dutch bowlers did effectively to limit them, with the spin bowling of kids Aryan Dutt and Tim Pringle inflicting issues.
The Dutch let themselves although down within the subject and dropped a number of catches, Kingma notably fumbling a vital excessive ball handy Zaman a lifeline when he was on 43.
Batting second, the Dutch misplaced hard-hitting Max O’Dowd within the second over lbw to ODI debutant Naseem Shah (3-51), with a quick ball nipping again onto his pads.
Shah struck once more later within the innings, dismissing Teja Nidamanuru, who dragged a supply onto his stumps, after which trapping Pringle leg earlier than for a golden duck.
Fellow fast Haris Rauf (3-67) claimed the essential scalp of the veteran Cooper, who made 65 off 54 deliveries.
Cooper and 19-year-old Vikramjit Singh (65) put collectively a 97-run stand to regular the Dutch innings.
Edwards then took bat to ball and with three overs left, the Dutch required 48 runs off 24 deliveries.
Regardless of Edwards’ heroic knock of 71 off 60 balls the Dutch fell agonisingly brief.
Promoted
The second ODI shall be performed on the VOC cricket floor on Thursday, with the ultimate match within the sequence scheduled for Sunday on the similar venue.
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