NED vs PAK, 1st ODI: Babar shines with 74!

NED vs PAK, 1st ODI: Pakistan captain Babar Azam hit a magnificent knock of 74 in the first ODI against the Netherlands in Rotterdam. Pakistan got off to a difficult start before Babar and Fakhar Zaman sewed a 168-run partnership of 170 balls, and helped their team with posting a total of 314 for six out of 50 overs. While Fakhar hit a run-a-ball 109, Babar cut out a 74-run knock, hitting six boundaries and a six. Babar was dismissed after mistiming a delivery from Dutch paceman Logan van Beek.

Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat on a hot and moist day at the VOC cricket ground outside the Dutch harbour city in the first of a three-match series.

The home bowlers at first contained Pakistan’s batting, with the guests losing their first wicket, that of dangerman Imam-ul-Haq, lbw to paceman Vivian Kingma in the 6th over for a painstaking two off 19 balls.

However, Zaman and Azam in the end set free and put on an partnership of 168 off 170 balls before Azam was trapped in a delicate dismissal when he mistimed a shot into the waiting hands of Tom Cooper at mid-off.

Zaman was dismissed two overs later when he was splendidly run out by Dutch captain and wicketkeeper Scott Edwards off a pin-point precise throw by Bas de Leede at deep mid-wicket.

.@babarazam258 bosses around with a sublime knock of 74.

Watch all the action from the Pakistan tour of Netherlands LIVE, exclusively on #FanCode 👉 https://t.co/Sz8Rmk2fOO @TheRealPCB @KNCBcricket #NEDvPAK pic.twitter.com/BFcc8H8J4z

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 16, 2022

Pakistan looked set for a bigger total however the Dutch bowlers did well to confine them on a slow pitch, with the twist bowling of youngsters Aryan Dutt and Tim Pringle causing problems.

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The Dutch let themselves down in the field however and dropped several catches, Kingma notably fumbling a high ball to hand Zaman a lifeline when he was on 43.

Netherlands verged on causing an upset, yet were eventually confined to 298/8.

Opener Vikramjit Singh hit 65, while Tom Cooper also registered a similar score. Skipper Scott Edwards stayed unbeaten on 71 off 60 deliveries, yet it was not enough to get the hosts over the line. Pacers Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah took three wickets each for Pakistan.