PAK VS NED - 2nd Match, ICC Cricket World Cup 2023

So there we have it, that's the end of Game 2. Plenty of action coming up tomorrow though, we've got our first double-header! The first game of the day will see Bangladesh go up against Afghanistan at Dharamsala while South Africa take Sri Lanka on in the second at Delhi. This World Cup has already gotten off to such an exciting start and there's no doubt that there's more of the same to come. Do join us tomorrow. Until then, this is Anurag Hegde bidding you goodbye on behalf of Saurabh Shankar, Ramakrishnan MS, Raju Peethala and Praveen Kumar.

Babar Azam: The way Hyderabad supports us, we are very happy. Our team is enjoying the hospitality. Pretty satisfied, credit to the bowlers, the way started well and the way we took wickets in the middle overs. We lost three wickets, the way Rizwan and Saud batted put pressure on the Netherlands. Saud built his innings and played well. He has improved a lot. Our bowlers bowled very well, we stuck to our plans, Haris bowled quick and took wickets.

Scott Edwards: Firstly, a little bit disappointing. Think we bowled a fielded really well. Credit to Pakistan, they batted well in the end. Felt the total was par, we felt we were in the game when we were on 120. Captaincy is a bit about instinct, lot of options out there. Bas de Leede is fantastic in all three departments of the game. Just needed someone to go with him. Haven’t spoken to van Beek, we’ll assess that and see where it goes. Probably one that got away, we were in a pretty good position. They just took a few wickets in the middle there.

Saud Shakeel | Player of the Match: Tried to be positive and score runs for the team. Nerves were there, we lost 3 wickets but I was fortunate enough to get early boundaries. We knew the pressure would go back to them if we got a start. I think the last 2-3 months I’ve been playing hard, I knew I’d bat number 5 for Pakistan and have been developing my shots according to that - sweeps and reverse sweeps. Thanks to the crowd as well, and I want to thank my coach as well for helping me out.

Pakistan’s record defending 275 or more in World Cups
Matches: 14
Won: 14

Spare a thought for Bas de Leede as well. He was simply outstanding today. Picked up 4 wickets with the ball before coming out to score a valorous fifty. He got the Netherlands to the World Cup after almost single-handedly taking them to a win over Scotland in the qualifiers and he came out here and put up another solid performance. Unfortunately, there just wasn't quite enough from the rest of the unit.

Pakistan probably wouldn't be too chuffed about this. They ended up leaking a few runs at the end and the win wasn't quite as convincing as they would've liked. It still is points on the board though and they get their 2023 World Cup campaing off to a winning start.

21:16 Local Time, 15:46 GMT, 21:16 IST: So Pakistan stave off the Dutch threat! The Netherlands fought valiantly but it wasn't enough today. They did keep Pakistan on their toes though and that's definitely something they can write home about. After doing a great job with the ball to restrict Pakistan to 286, they got off to a promising strat. VIkramjit Singh looked very fluent and was prompt in dispatching anything that was loose. O'Dowd and Ackermann couldn't add many but Netherlands' man for all occasions, Bas de Leede, turned up once again. He shared a nice partnership with Vikramjit and they set about laying the foundations for what they hoped would be a historic chase. Even as VIkramjit fell trying to up the ante, de Leede carried on strong at one end. Unfortuntely though, he started to lose partners rather quickly at the other end. They lost three in a clump and that put them under a little too much pressure. De Leede eventually fell for well made 67. Van Beek swung his bat around but a bit but there weren't any other significant contributions, meaning that the Dutch fell short by 81 runs.

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, out Bowled!! Got him! Right through him and Haris Rauf is pumped! Length delivery on middle, fast and straight, van Meekeren didn't have an answer as he fended from his crease, it snuck through the gate and uprooted leg-stump. Rauf makes sure van Meekeren sees what's happened behind him. Pakistan win! van Meekeren b Haris Rauf 7(12) [4s-1]

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Haris Rauf to van Beek, 1 run, slower delivery full outside off, van Beek taps it to deep cover

Haris Rauf to van Beek, no run, full and just outside off, zips through as van Beek flashes at it, all hands and no feet there as it beat the outside edge

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, 1 run, length delivery on leg-stump, tucked off his hips down towards deep square leg

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, no run, nails the yorker on middle, van Meekeren keeps it out

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, wide, full and sliding down leg with the angle, van Meekeren looks to glance it fine and misses

Haris Rauf to van Meekeren, no run, short of length on off-stump, van Meekeren sways out of the way, wears a cheeky smile after

Hasan Ali to van Beek, FOUR, pumped back down the ground again! Full and straight on middle, right in the slot for van Beek who clears his front-leg before smacking it back over the bowler's head

Hasan Ali to van Beek, wide, slower short ball outside off, spongy bounce and it loops over the batter, needs to bowl that again

Hasan Ali to van Beek, no run, full and wide outside off, van Beek reaches out looking to slap it through the off-side and it goes towards mid-wicket off the inner half

Hasan Ali to van Beek, no run, inside edge! Length delivery on off-stump, van Beek heaved across the line and got a thick inside edge, went to the keeper on the bounce