In a thrilling encounter at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on October 6, 2023, the Netherlands cricket team pulled off an impressive upset against Pakistan during the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. The Dutch team’s remarkable performance restricted Pakistan to a total of 286 runs, shattering captain Babar Azam’s dream of posting a 300-run target.
The early stages of Pakistan’s innings witnessed a challenging struggle as their top-order batters fell within the first 10 overs. The team faced a daunting task, but Shadab Khan made a valiant effort to keep the momentum going. Unfortunately, his stay at the crease was short-lived as he was dismissed.
2️⃣8️⃣6️⃣ on the board 🏏@76Shadabkhan and @mnawaz94 with important contributions towards the end after 6️⃣8️⃣ each from @saudshak and @iMRizwanPak 👏#PAKvNED | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/WwypcIlfsI
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 6, 2023
Amidst the adversity, Haris Rauf stepped up, smashing two boundaries and a six before being stumped. However, it was Babar Azam’s ambition to reach the elusive 300-run milestone that was most noteworthy. Despite Pakistan’s all-out efforts, the Netherlands’ bowlers displayed impeccable control and precision, preventing Pakistan from reaching their desired target.
The situation became increasingly precarious for Pakistan as they lost Hassan Ali and Shadab Khan in quick succession, both of whom had attempted to keep up the momentum following the fall of the sixth wicket. Iftikhar Ahmed was the next to be dismissed, adding only 9 runs to the scoreboard. His departure came shortly after the Dutch team broke a significant partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, which had produced over 100 runs. This disruption further hindered Pakistan’s efforts to rebuild their innings after the early dismissals of their top-order batters.
Commanding partnership of 1️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ runs 👏@saudshak is dismissed after a superb 68 🌟#PAKvNED | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/5tRF01lzcu
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 6, 2023
The top Pakistani batsmen, including Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Imam-ul-Haq, had all fallen within the first 10 overs, leaving Pakistan at 38/3. Zaman was the first to depart, followed by the Pakistani skipper, who was caught leg-side and dismissed with just 5 runs to his name.
However, there was a glimmer of hope for Pakistan as Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan combined forces to forge a remarkable 120-run partnership, taking Pakistan’s total to 162 runs. This partnership gave Pakistan a fighting chance, but it was short-lived as the Netherlands’ Aryan Dutt dismissed Saud Shakeel.
At the toss, Netherlands captain Scott Edwards made a strategic decision to ask Pakistan to bat first, believing that it would be advantageous to bat under the stadium’s lights. Edwards expressed optimism about his team’s performance against the Men in Green, citing their frequent encounters with Pakistan in recent years.
In response, Pakistani skipper Babar Azam stated that their target was to set a score between 290 and 300 runs, reflecting his team’s ambition and confidence.
📸🪙#PAKvNED | #DattKePakistani | #WeHaveWeWill pic.twitter.com/8dyRHVVuQf
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 6, 2023
This matchup marked the seventh time that Pakistan and the Netherlands faced each other in a One-Day International (ODI) match. In their previous six encounters, Pakistan emerged victorious every time. Notably, Pakistan toured the Netherlands last year for their first bilateral series, where they achieved a clean sweep.
Pakistan entered the 50-over World Cup as one of the favorites, boasting an impressive win-loss ratio of 2.400, with 24 wins in 36 matches during the recent World Cup cycle. Their consistency was attributed to the solid performances of their key players over the years.