Pakistan came up with a clinical performance in the 2nd ODI against the Netherlands on Thursday, August 18 as captain Babar Azam led from the front for a 7-wicket win and an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series. Pakistan gunned down a below-par total of 187 with 7 wickets and 16.2 overs to spare.
Netherlands had run Pakistan close in the first ODI as they posted 298 in a failed chase of 315 but the hosts were not able to build on the solid show from Tuesday in Rotterdam. Batting first, the Netherlands managed just 186 runs on the board and lasted only 44.1 overs.
The Netherlands had as many as 8 single-digit scores as solid efforts from Bas de Lee and Tom Cooper went in vain.
The Netherlands were left reeling at 8 for 3 after Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf jolted the top-order but de Lee and Copper added 109 runs for the 4th wicket.
De Lee scored 89 from 120 balls but he lost his partner Cooper, who managed 66 from 74 balls, in the 26th over following which Netherlands suffered another collapse.
De Lee batted on but he had no support from the lower middle-order as Netherlands lost their last 7 wickets for just 69 runs.
Mohammad Nawaz, who triggered the collapse with Cooper's wicket, finished with 3 wickets while pacers Rauf and Naseem shared 5 wickets between them.
BABAR AND RIZWAN SHINE
In reply, Pakistan got off to a horror start, losing Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq inside the first four overs but Babar Azam (57) and Mohammad Rizwan (69 not out) steadied the ship with a 88-run stand for the 3rd wicket.
The pick of Pakistan's batting on Thursday was Agha Salman, who walked in at No. 5 and smashed a 35-ball 50 not out, hitting 2 sixes and a boundary.
Salman hit the winning runs with a six as Pakistan sealed the series with an ODI left.
"We are trying different combinations, Salman showed his class today. He played very well today, so looking forward to the next game," skipper Babar heaped praise on Salman.
The 3rd ODI will be played in Rotterdam on Saturday.