The Netherlands will be up against Pakistan in the second of the three-match ODI series on Thursday. The match will be played at the Hazelaarweg in Rotterdam.
Given the disparity between the two teams in terms of both personnel and experience at the highest level, Pakistan was always expected to have it easy against the Dutch. However, if the first game was an indication of what is to come, Babar Azam’s men can expect a stern challenge.
Though the green shirts won the first game, they did not achieve the victory as easily as many would have predicted. Though they were unimpressive with the ball, the Netherlands did play considerably well with the bat and at one stage, it even seemed that they could sneak a win.
Current Form
Confidence was high in the Pakistani camp coming into this match, as they had just whitewashed West Indies 3-0 in their previous ODI outing. Batting first in the last game, Azam’s men put up a commendable total of 314 runs on the scoreboard.
The skipper himself played a good hand of 74 runs, but the star of the match was certainly opening batter Fakhar Zaman, who scored 109 runs from as many deliveries whilst hitting 12 fours and 1 six in the process.
As for the Dutch bowlers, Bas de Leede was the only player who impressed, as he scalped two wickets by conceding only 42 runs in his 10 overs. While Logan van Beek also scalped a couple of wickets, he was expensive.
In response, the hosts had a horrendous start, losing two of their biggest batting pillars inside the fifth over. However, fighting knocks from Vikramjit Singh, Tom Cooper and skipper Scott Edwards brought them closer to the title. Unfortunately, the pressure of run rate eventually crept up on them and all they could manage was 298 runs.
Head-to-Head Record
Pakistan and Netherlands have crossed paths four times in ODI cricket previously, and the former emerged victoriously on all such occasions. The very first clash saw Pakistan securing an 8-wicket triumph at the Gaddafi Stadium in a 1996 World Cup clash.
The next two matches took place in 2002 and 2003, at the ICC Champions Trophy and the World Cup respectively. The green shirts secured easy wins here as well, and the last meeting was the only instance of the Netherlands putting up a fight against them.
Key Players
Fakhar Zaman smashed a sublime century in the first match
Fakhar Zaman: Fakhar Zaman needed to perform in the last game as his place on the side is not as secure as it once was. However, when it seemed that he had his back to the wall, the 32-year-old played a sublime knock to prove why he should be in the ‘indispensable’ bracket when it comes to selecting Pakistan’s ODI team.
He scored 109 runs, which happens to be his 7th century in this format of the game. In 60 matches, Zaman has scored 2599 runs at an average of 46.41 and a strike rate of nearly 95. He also has 14 ODI half-centuries to his name.
Scott Edwards: Scott Edwards has been a one-man army for the Netherlands in recent months, and while he received support in the first ODI, the skipper still did an incredible job in leading his team from the front.
He scored an unbeaten 71 runs from 60 deliveries, which includes six fours and also a six. This was Edwards’ ninth half-century in this format, despite having played only 23 matches. He has scored 763 ODI runs at an average in excess of 40.
Predicted Playing XIs
Netherlands: Vikramjit Singh, Max ODowd, Tom Cooper, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards (c & wk), Teja Nidamanuru, Logan van Beek, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Wesley Barresi, Vivian Kingma.
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Khushdil Shah, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Prediction
While the Netherlands’ fight in the first ODI deserves applause, the gulf in quality between the two sides still remains a major differentiating factor. Hence, we have predicted Pakistan to win this match, and subsequently, the series.