Netherlands set 148 runs target for Pakistan in T20 World Cup opener
Cricket
Netherlands posted 147/8 in their T20 World Cup opener against Pakistan in Colombo. Michael Levitt top-scored with 24 runs, but Pakistan's bowlers, led by Salman Mirza (3 wickets), dominated.
COLOMBO (Dunya News) – Netherlands set a target of 148 runs for Pakistan in first match of the T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on Saturday.
Despite a few solid contributions, the Netherlands struggled to build partnerships as Pakistan's bowlers dominated throughout the innings. The Netherlands team was bowled out for 147 in 20th over.
Michael Levitt top-scored for the Netherlands with 24 runs off 15 balls, including 3 fours and 1 six, before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz.
Max O'Dowd, who was also in good form, could only manage 5 runs off 7 balls before falling to Salman Mirza. Bas de Leede added 30 runs off 25 balls, but his efforts were not enough to stabilize the innings, as he too was dismissed by Nawaz.
Colin Ackermann made a brief impact with 20 runs off 14 balls, but was soon sent packing by Abrar Ahmed. The Netherlands' captain, Scott Edwards, fought hard for his 37 runs off 29 balls, but he was dismissed by Abrar Ahmed as well.
The lower order crumbled under pressure with wickets falling quickly. Zach Lion-Cachet (9 runs) and Logan van Beek (0 runs) were both dismissed by Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who claimed two wickets in his only over.
Aryan Dutt's 11 runs off 5 balls helped boost the score, but it was not enough to prevent the collapse.
For Pakistan, Salman Mirza took three wickets while Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz took two wickets each. Shaheen Afridi grab one wicket.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq
