Pakistan men's cricket team notched up crucial 16 runs win in the first ODI of 3-match series against Netherlands on Tuesday. After posting mammoth 314/6 in 1st innings, three-wicket haul from Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah derailed Netherlands' run chase in the second and eventually restricted them at 298/9 in 50 overs.
For Pakistan, top-order batter Fakhar Zaman (109 off 109) delivered great batting effort as he raced to seventh ODI hundred off just 105 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and one maximum. Fakhar stitched a crucial 168-run stand with skipper Babar Azam to guide Men in Green to a competitive total.
While, Fakhar Zaman was en route to his seventh ODI hundred, the batter was stung by a bee which left him with unbearable pain. The video of the incident has since then gone viral and it clearly shows Fakhar immediately dropping his bat and looked at the spot. This incident took place on the third ball of the 17th over when the left-hander was taking his stance at the crease.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam and team's physio took a close look of his hand before he shifted his gear to successfully complete his seventh hundred in his ODI career. While, Fakhar Zaman impressed everyone with his batting prowess, top-seeded ODI batter Babar Azam too showed his class as he registered his 20th half-century in the format, and seventh fifty-plus score in eight innings. Apart from Fakhar and Babar, Pakistan's innings was well constructed by blitz cameos from Shadab Khan (48 off 28) and Agha Salman (27 off 16) to help Pakistan go beyond 300-plus score.
Meanwhile, Netherlands too didn't hold back as their top-order batter Vikramjit Singh's 65 off 98, 65 from middle-order batter Tom Cooper, and 71 off 60 from Netherland skipper Scott Edwards kept the hosts in the game. But, Pakistan's bowlers ability to take crucial wickets at quick intervals restricted the hosts at 298 in 50 overs.
The 2nd and 3rd one-day international between both the teams will take place on Aug 18, and Aug 21, respectively at the same venue.
