Pakistan defeated the Netherlands by an astounding 81 runs in their ODI World Cup opener on Friday, October 6. Pakistan showed their strength in both the batting and bowling departments. The Babar Azam-led team played brilliantly with the ball, overcoming the Dutch’s resistance to limit them to a total of 205 runs while pursuing a 287-run target.
Fast bowler Hasan Ali’s comeback to the ODI format was a turning point for Pakistan, and his contributions weren’t underappreciated.
Ali, who was brought in as a last-minute replacement for the ailing Naseem Shah for the World Cup team, had an immediate impact. He took two significant wickets in seven efficient overs for a total of 33 runs, drawing accolades from none other than Dale Steyn, a former South African speed wonder.
Steyn praised the 29-year-old’s performance while admitting the hiccup brought on by Pakistan’s normal opening fast-bowling pair not being present. He observed the right-arm pacer’s careful approach, highlighting the fact that the runner didn’t constantly try to hit speeds in the 140-145 KMPH area. Instead, the Pakistani pacer’s emphasis on accuracy in line and length worked wonders to stifle the Dutch batting order.
Hasan Ali hasn’t taken the new ball in quite some time. When you don’t have your regular fast bowling unit to start the bowling, things get chaotic. But when he arrived, he performed a fantastic job. He made no genuine effort to increase the speed to that range of 140-145 KMPH. He used his line and length extremely effectively, Steyn said on ESPNcricinfo following the match.
Dale Steyn was moved by Hasan Ali’s on-field demeanor.
Steyn, who underlined the value of enjoying the game, also took note of Hasan’s positive attitude on the field. The cricketer’s contagious smile during competition, according to the South African legend, showed his sincere enjoyment, which contributed to his outstanding performance that day.
He also had a pleasant smile on his face, which I found to be another aspect I liked about him. He seemed to be having fun, to be honest. Things are a little bit easier when you are having fun, Steyn continued, underlining the importance of having a good outlook in the game of cricket.
India
