Cricket World Cup: Pakistan made to sweat before seeing off the Netherlands

Babar Azam's side, playing in India for the first time since 2016, got off to a rocky start after being reduced to 38 for three with Fakhar Zaman, Azam, and Imam-ul-Haq all departing within the first 10 overs.

But Mohammad Rizwan (68 from 75 balls) and Saud Shakeel (68 from 52) steadied the ship with a 120-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bas de Leede then claimed four wickets to prevent Pakistan batting the Netherlands out of the game, finishing with respectable figures of four for 62.

Scott Edwards stumped Haris Rauf off the final ball of the 49th over as Pakistan were dismissed for 286.

After the early losses of Colin Ackermann and Max O'Dowd left the Netherlands on 50 for two, Vikramjit Singh and De Leede joined forces to hunt down the Pakistan total.

Singh hit 52 from 67 balls with De Leede demonstrating his all-round abilities, top-scoring with an almost run-a-ball 67 as the pair put on 70 for the third wicket.

But following the dismissal of Singh at 120 for three, a steady stream of wickets kept Pakistan in charge and they were dismissed for 205 with nine overs remaining, despite a late flurry of boundaries from Logan van Beek.

Haris Rauf was the pick of the Pakistan attack with three for 43.

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