Wasim breaks 500 barrier in Pakistan stroll

Pakistan 253-9 Netherlands 156 Pakistan win by 97 runs

Pakistan kept their World Cup hopes alive with a comprehensive 97–run victory over Holland at Boland Park yesterday but Wasim Akram's 500th one–day international wicket papered over the cracks of another unimpressive performance.

The veteran left–armer became the first bowler in limited overs history to take 500 wickets as he removed opener Nick Statham with the the first ball of his second over of Holland's reply to their 253 for nine.

The only other bowler to take more than 400 one–day wickets is Wasim's team–mate and Pakistan captain Waqar Younis, whose dismissal of Bas Zuiderent took him to 414. Third on the list of all–time wicket takers in one–dayers is Sri Lanka's master spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (314).

Wasim – who made his debut against New Zealand in Faisalabad in 1984 and claimed his first wicket later that season when he dismissed Robbie Kerr in Melbourne in February 1985 – took his tally to 501 when claimed the wicket of Klaas van Noortwijk, who edged an out–swinger to Rashid Latif behind the stumps.

And, fittingly, he made it 502 when he pinned last man Jeroen Smits leg before to finish with three for 24.

After losing to Australia and England earlier in the tournament, Pakistan knew they could not afford to lose another match if they were to make the Super Six stage and today's victory keeps that hope alive.

They must now play bitter rivals India in Centurion on Saturday before concluding the preliminary stage against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

But while Pakistan ran out comfortable winners, coach Richard Pybus will not have been too happy with the performance as the batting again lacked application and no real partnerships were put together.

Sent into bat, Waqar's side made 253 for nine before bowling out the Dutch for 156 in the 40th over, but the player considered by most to be important to Pakistan's hopes, Inzamam–ul Haq, again failed with the bat.

After being dismissed first ball against England on Saturday, Inzamam lasted just one ball more today before he was again trapped lbw.

This time, however, he was unlucky as television replays showed he had got a faint inside–edge onto his pads.

Yousuf Youhana top scored with 58 off 59 deliveries with Taufeeq Umar making 48 and Abdur Razzaq 47 but the rest of the side were disappointing as the Dutch bowled tidily but not devastatingly.

Things did not get that much better for Pakistan in the field as they conceded 40 extras (including 17 wides and six no–balls) as they gave the appearance of a side who would rather have been anywhere than fielding in the steamy heat of Paarl.

The bowlers did not impress either and none showed any real penetration against the Dutch part–timers.

Daan van Bunge, who top scored for Holland against India with 62 here a fortnight ago, again played well scoring 31 (three fours and a six) and he received some support from Luuk van Troost, who scored a gritty 28, but the task was beyond the Dutch.