Irfan Pathan, Bhogle laud Saud Shakeel & Co.

Dutch all-rounder Bas de Leede took four wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 286 in the World Cup on Friday, derailing an innings which featured half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan.

Netherlands justified the decision to bowl first as Pakistan were tottering at 38-3 before the end of first powerplay.

Shakeel and Rizwan -- playing their first World Cup match -- steadied the innings with a solid 120-run stand for the fourth wicket but three wickets fell in the space of 24 balls for 30 runs.

Shakeel, who struck nine boundaries and a six, miscued a sweep off spinner Aryan Dutt before De Leede bowled Rizwan and had Iftikhar Ahmed for nine. Rizwan hit eight boundaries.

Pakistan were further lifted as Mohammad Nawaz (39) and Shadab Khan (32) added 64 for the seventh wicket but De Leede dismissed Shadab and Hasan Ali off successive deliveries.

Indian commentator, Harsha Bhogle, and former cricket, Irfan Pathan, heaped praise on the effort by Pakistan’s middle and lower-order batsmen.

Yesterday Rachin took the advantage of practise match form, today Saud Shakeel doing the same. Good left hand option for Pakistan in the middle order. #PAKvNED

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 6, 2023

Often hear people saying: if 7 can get the runs, 8 can't. I never believed in it. Look at today, numbers 7 & 8 have probably done it for Pakistan

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 6, 2023