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Pakistan defeated the Netherlands to win their first game of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in India. Playing at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the Dutch invited Pakistan to bat first and dominated with a spell of great new-ball bowling. After being three down at 38, Mohammed Rizwan and Saud Shakeel posted a 120-run partnership to bring Pakistan back into the match.
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But after the Rizwan-Shakeel duo departed, the lower order comprising Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf added some valuable runs and the total to 286. For the Netherlands, Bas de Leede was the star performer with a spell of 4-62.
Then in the second innings, the Dutch got off to a great start, despite the wickets of Max ODowd and Colin Ackermann, with Vikramjeet Singh scoring fluently. Singh and Bas de Leede scored valuable half-centuries but after their dismissals, the Dutch lower order fell apart as Pakistan registered an 81-run win. Haris Rauf starred by picking up three wickets in nine overs while giving away 43 runs.
