Pakistan registered their first win in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 after defeating Netherlands by 6 wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
The men in green suffered losses against both India and Zimbabwe, They did, however, play exceptionally well in this game against the 17th-ranked side in the world to claim 2 important points.
Earlier, an excellent performance by Pakistan bowlers restricted the Dutch side at 91/9 in 20 overs.
PAK Vs NED Match Highlights
Netherlands skipper Scott Edwards after winning the toss and choosed to bat first, but his decision turned wholly opposite, as Pakistan bowlers were looking in complete dominating form since the very ball.
The pace battery Shaheen Afridi handed Pakistan first breakthrough with a wicket of Stephan Myburgh. Soon after, the vice-captain Shadab Khan trapped the Dutch batters and sent Tom Cooper and Max ODowd back to the pavilion.
The men in green were so dominating that Netherlands only managed to put 34 on board in the first 10 overs. Colin Ackermann and the skipper Scott Edwards tried to add some runs with their steady partnership, but it was Shadab Khan again, as he broke the well-set partnership to give headache to the opponent.
Edwards then removed by young Naseem Shah, and the Dutch side only able to add 91 on board in 20 overs.
Shadab Khan bagged the maximum wickets for Pakistan with 4-22-3. Mohammad Wasim Jnr. Grabbed 2 wickets, having missed hat-trick chance. While Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took a wicket each.
Pakistan to chase 92 in 20 overs
Pakistan started their run-chase campaign with a shocker, as out of form, skipper Babar Azam walked back to the hut after scoring just 4.
He got run-out while trying to collect a single from mid-on. Fakhar Zaman, then joined Mohammad Rizwan.
Both Rizwan and Fakhar were in hurry to end the game as early as possible to register a bi win to improve run-rate too. And they were on that track only after putting 53 on board in 7, but Brandon Glover ruined their party by removing Fakhar Zaman (20).
The dependable Rizwan scored the highest run for his side in the run-chase with 49 off 39. While Shan Masood also returned to pavilion after scoring 12 when the team required only a single run to win. Shadab Khan the winning runs for Pakistan.
With this win, Pakistan kept their semis hopes alive after claiming a victory over Netherlands on Sunday. They are now standing at 5th spot at the points table with a win in 3 games. While the Netherlands, who lost all of their matches so far has been officially out of the semi-finals race.
The men in green will next be seen in squaring off against South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 3.
