Although clearly out of their depth, the Netherlands, who have never won an official ODI, put together a spirited performance against Pakistan’s feared pace bowling attack.

Tim de Leede and Luuk van Troost added 55 for the fifth wicket after an early collapse and then skipper Roland Lefebvre and wicket-keeper Reinoult Scholte batted stubbornly, adding 28 in 82 balls for the eighth wicket.

Nevertheless, the Netherlands top scorer was extras, which contributed 31 runs to the total.

Luuk van Troost was the sixth batsman to fall, caught behind for 16 from 59 balls, as leg-spinner Shahid Afridi picked up three wickets in the middle of the innings.

Jacob-Jan Esmeijer lasted just two balls before he was trapped lbw for a duck to leave the Netherlands on 84 for seven.

The 100 was brought up in the 37th over with a lofted drive by Lefebvre, a rare moment of aggression in a generally cautious stand.

Against the pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami both batsmen appeared uncomfortable, but it was off-spinner Shoaib Malik that eventually broke through as Scholte was stumped whilst trying to sweep.

Edgar Schiferli was then cleaned bowled in the next over for a duck after aiming an ugly smear to leg.

Lefebvre’s resistance continued with a straight six off Malik before Abdul Razzaq wrapped up the innings when he clean bowled last man Adel Raja with a leg stump yorker in the final over.

Lefebvre finished unbeaten on 32 from 70 balls, hitting a four and a six.

Afridi proved the most successful bowler, claiming three for 18 from his ten overs.

The Netherlands slipped to 23 for four before a gritty fightback from the tournament minnows. However, mid-way through the first innings Pakistan were firmly in control with the Netherlands on 79 for five.

Netherlands started cautiously after bravely electing to bat, surviving the first few overs bowled by Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar without great alarm.

But Akthar, taking the new ball in place of the rested Wasim Akram, eventually broke through in the fourth over as Daan van Bunge (1) edged a short delivery to Misbah-ul-Haq at first slip.

In the seventh over Feiko Kloppenburg (7) was run out after a direct hit by extra cover fieldsman Shahid Afridi.

Waqar grab his first wicket in the ninth over as Bas Zuiderent (7) sliced a sharp chance to the right of Younis Khan at second slip.

Next ball, left-hander Hendrik-Jan Mol (0) shouldered arms to a full-length inswinger that knocked back his off stump.

Netherlands were 23 for four.

However, left-hander Tim de Leede, the highest scorer against Sri Lanka, fought back with support from Luuk van Troost.

The pair added 55 in 89 balls, frustrating Pakistan’s fast bowlers, particularly Mohammad Sami who struggled with his line bowling five wides.

De Leede, who cracked one six and two fours, was finally trapped lbw by Shahid Afridi in the 25th over of the innings having made 24 from 50 balls.

Reinout Scholte (1*) then joined van Troost (15*).

Neither side can qualify for the semi-finals after earlier losses to hosts Sri Lanka.

Pakistan, without a coach after the sacking of Mudassar Nazar, picked from a squad of just 12 after injuries to Inzamann-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana both facing surgery to heel long term injuries.

Netherlands team:

DLS van Bunge, B Zuiderent, TBM de Leede, +RH Scholte, LP van Troost, JJ Esmeijer, Adeel Raja, E Schiferli,*RP Lefebvre, JF Kloppenburg, HJC Mol

Pakistan team:

Saeed Anwar, Imran Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Abdur Razzaq, +Rashid Latif,*Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami