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.

Relive all of the match action and catch up on all the reaction below. Get the latest match odds and tips here.

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

32.6

Shaheen Afridi to Bas de Leede. Off cutter length ball, off stump on the front foot working, mis-timed back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Ahmed.

6 October 2023 16:08

Pakistan vs Netherlands

32.5

Shaheen Afridi to Bas de Leede. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Steer, mis-timed to backward point for no runs, fielded by ul-Haq.

6 October 2023 16:07

Pakistan vs Netherlands

32.4

FOUR! Shaheen Afridi to Bas de Leede. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, well timed past long on for 4 runs.

6 October 2023 16:06

Pakistan vs Netherlands

32.3

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Ali.

6 October 2023 16:05

Pakistan vs Netherlands

32.2

Shaheen Afridi to Roelof van der Merwe. Yorker, outside off stump on the front foot dropped, to backward point for no runs, fielded by ul-Haq.

6 October 2023 16:05

Pakistan vs Netherlands

32.1

OUT! L.B.W. Shaheen Afridi to Saqib Zulfiqar. Length ball, outside off stump moves in front working, hit pad. Struck in front!

6 October 2023 16:04

[6 October 2023 16:03 · Ben Fleming]

WICKET! Zulfiqar lbw b Shaheen 10 (NED 158-6)

Shaheen strikes first ball after the drinks break!

A big wicket for Pakistan as the ball cannons into Zulfiqar’s pads and from that the left-arm angle, there was no point in reviewing. That was never missing.

Another wicket falls for Netherlands and the wheels are slowly falling off this run chase.

Pakistan vs Netherlands

31.6

Mohammad Nawaz to Bas de Leede. Stock length ball, middle stump on the back foot working, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Ahmed.

6 October 2023 15:59

[6 October 2023 15:58 · Ben Fleming]

Netherlands 158-5 (32) De Leede 63, Zulfiqar 10, Nawaz 0-27 (5) target 287

A change at the other end, too, as Nawaz comes back in for Shadab but it’s Netherlands who are looking to kickstart their chase again as Zulfiqar clubs the spinner over short midwicket for a welcome boundary.

Six from the over and that will be drinks.

Pakistan vs Netherlands

31.5

Mohammad Nawaz to Saqib Zulfiqar. Stock length ball, middle stump backing away driving, to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Zaman.

6 October 2023 15:58