Cricket Highlights, 21 Aug: NED vs PAK (3rd ODI)

NED vs PAK (3rd ODI) – Highlights

The host Netherlands was on the way to their first victory by batting slowly in the 50-over match against Pakistan after an emphatic performance with the ball in hand. But when 33 runs were needed from 26 balls, the batsman Tom Cooper, who was on the wicket as the last hope, was sent back to the pavilion, and the dream of the Dutch was shattered.

However, the rest of the batsmen kept the excitement of the match going till the last over. But the day belonged to Pakistan. So, the visitors left the field with an incredible victory of 9 runs in a breathtaking match. With this victory, the Men in Green have whitewashed the hosts in the three-match ODI series.

In the third and final ODI of the series in Rotterdam on Sunday (August 21), the Netherlands’ innings was halted at 197 after losing all wickets in 49.2 overs to bat against Pakistan’s target of 207 runs.

Two bowlers Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jr put a smile on the face of the team on the day of the failure of the Pakistani batsmen. Naseem bowled 10 overs and scalped 5 wickets for 33 runs. He was also adjudged Player of the Match for his outstanding contribution to the team’s victory. On the other hand, Wasim bowled 9.2 overs and took 4 wickets for 36 runs.

Although Naseem laid the groundwork for the win, Wasim secured Pakistan’s win by sending back Tom Cooper, who was the Dutch’s last hope. Cooper played an innings of 62 runs playing 105 balls and was caught by Fakhar Zaman. Hitting just 4 boundaries in the entire match, Cooper played every ball carefully.

Vikramajit Singh’s second highest 50 runs for the team. 7 fours came off his bat facing 85 balls before Wasim got him. Besides, Teja Nidamanuru played a 24-run innings off 32 balls and made the Pakistan camp a bit worried.

The Netherlands needed 35 runs from 31 balls when Nidamanuru was dismissed, and he made 56 runs with Cooper in the sixth wicket partnership. Besides, Musa Ahmed scored 11 runs against 21 balls, and none of the rest could touch the double-digit score.

Earlier, the rest of Pakistan’s batsmen disappointed the fans except the captain Babar Azam who won the toss and batted first. Dutch bowlers Vivian Kingma, Logan van Beek, and Shariz Ahmad hit the Pakistan camp at the beginning.

Abdullah Shafiq scored 2 runs from 5 balls, Fakhar Zaman scored 26 runs from 43 balls and Agha Salman returned to the dressing room with 24 runs from 42 balls. After coming to the crease, Khushdil Shah returned to the pavilion after scoring 2 runs off 8 balls. Babar was standing at one end of the crease, watching his teammates come and go.

Then coming to the attack, Bas de Leede hunted Mohammad Haris (4), Mohammad Nawaz (27), and Mohammad Wasim Jr (11) one by one. On the other hand, Babar played an innings of 91 runs off 125 balls and returned to the dressing room by handing over a catch to Aryan Dutt. In the end, Pakistan’s innings stopped at 206 runs after losing all wickets in 49.4 overs. Leede took 3 wickets, and Kingma took 2 wickets.

With this, the Netherlands lost the 50-over match for the sixth time against Pakistan. However, this year’s loss is a bit regrettable because it was the smallest margin of loss compared to the previous five times.

NED vs PAK Scoreboard

Pakistan – 206/10 (49.4)

Netherlands – 197/10 (49.2)

Result – Pakistan won by 9 runs

Player of the match – Naseem Shah

NED vs PAK Playing XIs