A signature Babar Azam innings and sixth career half-century by Mohammad Rizwan lifted Pakistan to third in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League with a comfortable seven wickets victory over the Netherlands on Thursday.

Babar scored a strokeful 65-ball 57, while Rizwan completed 1,000 ODI runs in his 49th match on the way to 69 not out as Pakistan achieved the 187-run target in 33.4 overs. The two reliable and dependable batters had joined the act at the score of 11 for two and added 88 runs for the third wicket.

Babar, who reached his 21st career half-century from 52 balls with six fours, struck seven fours, while Rizwan hit six fours and a six in an 82-ball innings. The wicketkeeper-batter had completed his first half-century in four matches from 72 balls with four fours.

The two had paired together after Fakhar Zaman found a leading edge to be caught by Vivian Kingma off his own bowling. Four balls later, Kingma dismissed Imam-ul-Haq, who was caught by Logan van Beek at point.

While Rizwan was innovative and cheeky, as always, Babar was elegant, graceful and attractive, as ever, hitting almost everything from the sweet-spot of his willow until he perished with a mishit off off-spinner Aryan Dutt. The two batters dominated the proceedings from the very start and immediately shifted the pressure back on the Netherlands who were aiming for more wickets after quickly removing the two openers.

Following Babar’s departure, Salman Ali Agha joined Rizwan and returned unbeaten on 50, his maiden half-century in his second appearance.

Salman showed signs of talent and skills when he played some delightful strokes, including his only six that turned out to be the winning shot that also brought him his 50. He faced 35 balls and hit five fours and two sixes, and added 92 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket.

Earlier, the Netherlands elected to bat first and lost their first three wickets for eight runs and last seven wickets for 178 runs to be bowled out for 186 in 44.1 overs. Haris Rauf and Mohammad Nawaz equally shared six wickets between them conceding 16 and 42 runs, respectively, while Naseem Shah snapped up two for 27.

22-year-old Bas de Leede was the Netherlands’ leading scorer with an impressive 89 (120 balls, 2x4, 3x6) before he fell to Haris, while Tom Cooper followed up his 65 on Tuesday with 66 (74 balls, 7x4, 2x6). The two batters put on 109 runs for the fourth wicket.

The third match of the series will be played on Sunday.

Scores in brief:

Pakistan beat the Netherlands by seven wickets in second ODI

The Netherlands 186 all out, 44.1 overs (Bas de Leede 89, Tom Cooper 66; Haris Rauf 3-16, Mohammad Nawaz 3-42, Naseem Shah 2-27)

Pakistan 191-3, 33.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 69 not out, Babar Azam 57, Salman Ali Agha 50 not out; Vivian Kingma 2-32)

Player of the match: Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)