COLOMBO: Pakistan made a disciplined start to their T20 World Cup campaign by restricting the Netherlands to 147 runs in the tournament opener at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Saturday.
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to field first, a decision that paid off as the Green Shirts kept the Dutch batters under pressure throughout the innings.
Netherlands began their innings with Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd, who added 28 runs for the opening stand. O’Dowd was the first to depart, dismissed for five by Salman Mirza, while Levitt followed soon after for 24, falling to Muhammad Nawaz.
Middle-order resistance came from Colin Ackermann, who scored 20, and Bas de Leede, who top-scored with 30. However, Nawaz struck again to remove de Leede, tightening Pakistan’s grip on the match.
The wickets continued to tumble as Mohammad Abrar picked up the fifth scalp, while Saim Ayub removed the sixth and seventh batters to derail the Dutch innings further. Veteran all-rounder Roelof van der Merwe became the eighth wicket, caught by Salman Ali Agha off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Pakistan finished strongly in the death overs, with Salman Mirza claiming two wickets in the final over to bowl out the Netherlands for 147.
Pakistan’s bowling effort was a collective one, with Salman Mirza leading the attack with three wickets, while Saim Ayub, Muhammad Nawaz and Mohammad Abrar claimed two wickets each. Shaheen Afridi chipped in with one dismissal.
With 148 runs required for victory, Pakistan will be confident of opening their T20 World Cup campaign on a winning note.
