ROTTERDAM: Opening batsman Fakhar Zaman scored his eighth one-day international century to lead Pakistan to a 16-run victory against the Netherlands on Tuesday in the opening of a three-match series.
At the VOC Cricket Club outside the Dutch harbour city, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat in the hot, muggy circumstances on a day when big scores were anticipated on a slow wicket.However, the tourists struggled at first before hitting a dominant 314-6 after 50 overs.
Despite a heroic run-chasing effort, the Dutch lost to a determined Pakistani squad that had numerous loud supporters, finishing on 298-8.Fakhar scored 109 runs off just 109 balls, while captain Babar Azam made 74 runs off just 74 balls before being caught for a catch after mistiming a delivery from Dutch paceman Logan van Beek.
Pakistan’s batting was initially restrained by the home team’s bowlers, who claimed the visitors’ first wicket—danger man Imam-ul-Haq—lbw to pacer Vivian Kingma in the sixth over for a laborious two off 19 balls.
