HYDERABAD: Pakistan beat the Netherlands by 81 runs to open their campaign at the 2023 ICC World Cup on a positive note here on Friday.
Pakistan bowlers showed their intent with pacer Haris Rauf being the pick of them with three for 43, to ensure the team’s campaign began in style.
Opener Vikramjit Singh and Bas de Leede, who scored half-centuries and put on 70 runs for the third wicket, batted well but the rest of the batting line-up couldn’t get its act together.
Earlier, a disciplined bowling effort by Netherlands on a near-perfect batting strip ensured Pakistan, put in to bat in front of a sparse 5,000-odd crowd, was restricted to 286 in 49 overs.
Pakistan suffered early blows to be 38 for three in 9.1 overs.
