Chasing 254 for victory after a spirited fielding performance, the Netherlands struggled against Pakistan’s formidable battery of fast bowlers and after 25 overs were 93 for five.

Nevertheless, Dan van Bunge, who scored a fifty against the Indians at the same venue earlier in the tournament, was providing some resistance with a determined 20 from 52 deliveries with two boundaries thus far.

Wasim, playing in his 354th one-day game, reached his astonishing landmark when opener Nick Statham (0), beaten by pace and swing, played on to his stumps in the third over of the innings.

But Wasim, who will retire from all cricket after the World Cup, was not at his best, struggling with his line and run-up, and Waqar Younis introduced himself into the attack in the seventh over.

It was Shoaib Akhtar though that struck next as a frustrated Edgar Schiferli (9) tried to flat bat the speedster over mid on and was caught by Abdur Razzaq.

Bas Zuiderent (8) eased one fluent boundary through the covers before getting in a tangle against a Waqar inswinger and being adjudged lbw.

Wasim returned after a lively four over burst from Shoaib to claim his second wicket as Klaas-Jan Noortwijk, surprised by some extra bounce, edged to Rashid Latif.

Tim de Leede (15) and Dan van Bunge then led a mini recovery adding 34 for the fifth wicket before de Leede perished against Saqlain Mushtaq, squeezing a catch to point.

Pakistan’s top order, short of confidence after poor displays against Australia and England, struggled to assert their superiority against the energetic and disciplined Dutch.

Youshuf Youhana, at least, prevented embarrassment with a run-a-ball half century, only the second fifty by a Pakistani in the tournament.

The right-hander top scored with 58 from 59 balls, hitting four boundaries.

There were also contributions from opener Taufeeq Umar (48) and all-rounder Abdur Razzaq (47).

Razzaq added 35 runs with Youhana for the fourth wicket before edging a perfectly pitched leg-break from Dan van Bunge into the safe gloves of Jeroen Smits.

Saleem Elahi (5), asked to bat out of place in the middle order, then gifted van Bunge his second wicket by driving a low full toss straight to short cover.

Pakistan were 153 for five in the 34th over.

Wicket-keeper Rashid Latif (24) added 39 runs with Youhana before being caught off a leading edge as he tried to loft through the leg-side.

Wasim Akram (1) was left fuming with Youhana after being called for a quick single to mid on and then sent back at the last moment.

Youhana’s finally game to an end when he swung across the line and was bowled by Roland Lefebvre, the Netherlands’ best bowler.

Skipper Waqar Younis (1) was caught and bowled in the penultimate over of the innings.

Shoaib Akhtar provided the innings with some momentum in the later stages, smashing one six on his way to 26 from 27 balls.

Gentle medium pacer Lefebvre finished with one for 39 from his 10 overs and left-arm spinner Jacob-Jan Esmeijer was also economical conceding just 35 runs from 10 overs.

After 25 overs Pakistan were 110 for three having preferred a policy of steady accumulation to the more typical all-out attack during the early overs.

Abdur Razzaq, promoted to the number three position, was 24 not out from 38 balls, just starting to play his naturally expansive game.

But Pakistan had lost crucial top order wickets, including star batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq, veteran Saeed Anwar and rookie opener Taufeeq Umar.

Anwar (24) was the first to go, stroking three unconvincing boundaries before slicing an attempted square drive into the hands of backward point.

Taufeeq, playing ahead of the combustible Shahid Afridi, missed out on his third one-day fifty when he was brilliantly run out for 48.

The 21-year-old left-hander called for a suicidal single having played the ball just wide of the bowler, Jacob-Jan Esmeijer, who broke the wicket with an acrobatic flick.

Inzamam-ul-Haq (0), desperately short of form in the tournament having scored just 10 runs in three games, was then trapped lbw by medium pacer Tim de Leede.

The right-hander was unfortunate after television replays showed a think edge.

Youshuf Youhana was unbeaten on one.

Earlier, medium pacer Roland Lefebvre had bowled superbly with the new ball, conceding just 11 runs during an accurate six over spell.

Pakistan made two changes to the side that lost to England at the weekend, leaving out Shahid Afridi and the injured Younis Khan.

Taufeeq Umar comes into the side to open the innings and Saleem Elahi, surprisingly omitted for the England game, also plays.

Abdur Razzaq is expected to bat at number three.

Wasim Akram is on the brink of history, needing just one wicket to become the first man to take 500 wickets in one-day cricket.

Pakistan need to win their last three games after losses against Australia and England.

The Netherlands are yet to win a game after three attempts.

Pakistan team:

Taufeeq Umar, Saeed Anwar, Abdur Razzaq, Saleem Elahi, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf Youhana, +Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Saqlain Mushtaq, *Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar.

Netherlands team:

LP van Troost, NA Statham, B Zuiderent, KJJ van Noortwijk, TBM de Leede, DLS van Bunge, HJC Mol, JJ Esmeijer, *RP Lefebvre, E Schiferli, +J Smits.