Pakistan vs Netherlands LIVE: Result and reaction as Rauf takes three wickets and Babar Azam’s side win

Pakistan get their World Cup up and running with a convincing 81-run victory over the Netherlands

Virat Kohli joins team India ahead of their cricket World Cup match against Australia

Pakistan secured a comprehensive 81-run victory against a battling Netherlands to kickstart their World Cup campaign. Babar Azam’s side were in trouble after falling to 38-3 in the early stages but half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Muhammad Rizwan saw them recover to post 286 after 49 overs.

Netherlands started brightly in their chase as Bas de Leede and Vikram Singh both reached their half-centuries as part of a 70-run stand. But when Singh fell, the Dutch middle order failed to provide support for De Leede who eventually fell for 67, with Scott Edward’s side losing their last 8 wickets for 85 runs as they were bowled out for 205.

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Pakistan vs Netherlands LIVE: ODI World Cup updates

• Netherlands fall to 81-run defeat against Pakistan in opening both side’s opening World Cup fixture
• De Leede hits impressive half-centuries but Dutch run-chase collapses
• Pakistan bowled out for 286 off 49 overs; Rizwan and Shakeel hit vital half-centuries
• Cricket World Cup 2023: Full schedule, fixtures and match dates

Pakistan vs Netherlands

Follow live coverage of Pakistan vs Netherlands from the ODI World Cup today.

The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.

The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord's.

The shortest form of the game sees teams compete in Twenty20. The newest format has been an instant global hit with a number of hugely-lucrative competitions massively popular all over the world. Australia are reigning world champions having taken victory in the 2021 tournament.

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5 October 2023 09:30