NED 205/10 in 41 | Target 287 (50 overs) RRR 5.74 | PAK Win by 81 runs
The 2nd Match of the ICC Men’s Cricket WC23, India is being played at Hyderabad where Pakistan have set 287 for team NED with the require RR of 5.74. NED have started their chase against Shaheen and Hassan under lights. For a fun-fact, no team has yet chased down 275 or more against Pakistan in ICC Men’s Cricket Worldcups.
NED start quite well against seam bowling. The openers survive the first few overs and find occasional boundaries too. They dominate the Pakistan front-line bowlers in the first five overs but Hassan provides the first breakthrough with the bouncer to O’Dowd who skies the ball to the deep fine leg and goes for 5 off 12. NED are 28 for 1 in 5.5.
At the end of the 1st power play, NED manage to score 46/1 at 4.6. They require 240 in the remaining 40 with asking rate is 6. The second-wicket partner of 22 run is broken by Infikhar Ahmed. Colin Ackermann tries to sweep the ball but misses it that hits the wickets when NED complete 50.
De Leede, the Hero of CWC Qualifiers 2023, comes in for Ackermann to repeat the heroics of his Qualifier’s stage agaisnt Scotland where he scored first 132 off 92 witht he bat and 5/52 with the ball, helped NED not only helpd NED to chase that target down but also qualified for the ICC Men’s CWC23.
Today he’s already performed with the ball where he’s got 4 wickets in the first innings of the match No. 2 of the ICC CWC 2023. He looks solid against the Pakistan Spin attack and finds easy runs every now and then.
Singh and de Leede provide a solid 70-run stand for 3rd-wicket. Shadab opens the doors for Pakistan as Singh goes after scoring his 52 off 67 when NED required 167 more in next 26.1 overs. He pulled the ball high towards deep midwicket where Fakhar takes an easy catch to send him back to the dugout.
Next comes Nidamanuru , right-handed batter, who couldn’t hold down Haris’ pace and gets out at deep square leg. Nidamanuru goes for 5 off 9. Netherlands’ Captain, Edwards joins Leede in the middle but Haris sends him back quickly without allowing him any rest. NED require 144 more in 23 overs.
Bas de Leede and Saqib try to carry on with the same momentum but Shaheen removes Saqib while Nawaz guides Leede to the pavillion. Saqib makes 10 off 18 whearas de Leede manages 67 off 68 leaving NED to score 124 more in 100 balls.
Roelof van de Merwe who struggles in his running and feeling some sort of injury gets runout by Babar Azam. Even his dive couldn’t save him to go back to the dugout. NED are 176/8 in 36.
Hassan is back with the ball in hand to clean up the reamining 2 batters. With his reverse, ball deflected off the pad onto the stumps and it’s the end of Aryan Dutt who goes back for 1. NED are 184/9 and require 103 in 77 balls.
Beek and Meekeren show some resistance and add 22 run for the final wicket. NED’s innings comes to an end with Haris strinking the last wicket in 41st over and let Pakistan bowled-out NED on 205. Meekeren is cleaned bowled by Haris Rauf and Pakistan win their first match of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 by 81 runs. and its the 13th time Paksitan have successfully defended 275+ in ICC Cricket World Cups.
