Dutch dream over after Pakistan progress

Published on Tuesday 9 June 2009 22:52

PAKISTAN beat the Netherlands by 82 runs at Lord's yesterday to ensure their passage through to the Super Eights stage of the Twenty20 World Cup.

Shahid Afridi took 4-11, while Kamran Akmal had four stumpings and hit 41 as Pakistan bowled out the Dutch for 93. "Everything went to plan," captain Younis Khan said. "It's always good fun when you have a tight game and come from behind and win. The spinners are doing very well at the moment."

After losing their opening game against England, Pakistan needed to win by at least 24 runs to avoid being eliminated on run rate. After winning the toss and opting to bat, they made 175-5, with Khan contributing 36.

Despite some hapless fielding by Pakistan, the Netherlands collapsed from 42-1 as Afridi produced a devastating spell of spin bowling to skittle the Dutch middle order. Pakistan made the initial breakthrough in the second over. Darron Reekers struck two consecutive boundaries off Mohammad Aamer, but was bowled off the next ball.

Aamer should have had a second wicket, but Salman Butt dropped a simple catch from Alexei Kervezee. The momentum shifted towards Pakistan as they took three wickets from two overs. Afridi bowled Bas Zuiderent's leg stump and Peter Borren top-edged a sweep to Butt off Saeed Ajmal. Kervezee was then stumped by Akmal off Ajmal and though Afridi missed the chance to run out Tom de Grooth, fumbling the ball at the stumps, he redeemed himself with two wickets from three balls. First he bowled de Grooth, then had Daan van Bunge stumped by Akmal to reduce the Netherlands to 61-6.

The Netherlands then lost their last four wickets for just 31 runs. "We didn't have a good day," said Netherlands captain Jeroen Smits, whose side lit up the opening day by beating England. "Afridi was outstanding. That's what we said in the morning: we had to fear Afridi and to play him straight, but that's not what we did. Our bowling was okay but (the total] was too much for us."

South Africa secured victory by one run against New Zealand at Lord's. With both teams already assured of their places in the Super Eights courtesy of wins over Scotland, there was little at stake under the lights.

The Proteas mustered just 128 for seven, with New Zealand looking particularly sharp in the field. But when it came to chasing a pedestrian six-and-a-half an over to win, the Black Caps, needing 15 off the final over, came up short despite 57 from captain Brendon McCullum.