Paarl (South Africa): Pakistan's struggling batsmen failed to take full advantage of an easy-paced pitch in the World Cup match against the Netherlands at Boland Park on Tuesday. Only Yousuf Youhana made a half-century as Pakistan scored 253 for nine from 50 overs after being surprisingly asked to bat first on a hot day. Youhana hit 58 off 59 balls with four fours. Recalled opening batsman Taufeeq Umar made 48 and Abdul Razzaq, pushed up the batting order to number three, scored 47. A conspicuous failure for Pakistan, which needs to win its last three matches to go through to the Super Six, was star batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq. Inzamam was leg before to medium-pacer Tim de Leede off the second ball he faced, giving him a second duck in as many matches. But the decision by Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan appeared contentious as Inzamam looked to have got an inside edge while playing around his pad. Inzamam, Pakistan's main hope ahead of Saturday's encounter against archrival India, has so far scored just 10 runs in four innings in the tournament. The Dutch medium-pace and slow bowlers proved difficult to score off on a slow pitch, with left-arm spinner Jacob-Jan Esmeijer starring in an unbroken 10-over spell in which he conceded only 35 runs. Roland Lefebvre, the 40-year-old captain, also bowled steadily, taking one for 39 in his 10 overs. De Leede and leg spinner Daan van Bunge took two wickets each. Copyright AFP 2001

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Holland's Lefebvre wins toss, invites Pakistan to bat

Tags: paarl, south africa, pakistan, batsmen, easy-paced pitch, world cup match, the netherlands, yousuf youhana, half-century, opening batsman taufeeq umar, abdul razzaq, matches, super six, inzamam-ul-haq, leg before, medium-pacer tim de leede, inside edge, india, slow bowlers.