After Pakistan beat the Netherlands by 16 runs in the first One-Day International of their three-match series, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam acknowledged to being apprehensive at moments during the match due to “tricky conditions.”
The bowlers failed to maintain their lines and lengths against the Dutch middle order, and Pakistan will aim to correct those mistakes in the second ODI on Thursday to achieve a series-clinching victory.
The onus will be on Babar and first-game centurion Fakhar Zaman to score again, while opener Imam-ul-Haq and the middle order will be asked to perform. The good news for Pakistan was that spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan scored runs in the first game and will be expected to do so again.
Pakistan go 1️⃣-0️⃣ up after winning the first ODI by 16 runs! 🙌#NEDvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/ffLntsJfu6
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 16, 2022
The Dutch, on the other hand, struggled with the ball in hand in the series opener, conceding more than 300 points. Regardless, the batters showcased valiant performances with three half-centurions Vikramjit Singh, Tom Cooper, and Scott Edwards nearly doing the unthinkable.
Skipper Edwards remained at the crease right till the very end and scored an unbeaten 71 runs off 60 balls. He waged a lone war with hardly any support from the other end. His knock went in vain as the hosts were restricted to 298-8.
“We feel like more and more we are getting ourselves within reach of winning a few games but today we dropped two or three catches. We let ourselves down,” said Edwards after the match.
