Relaxed Pakistan trounce Holland

WAQAR YOUNIS fired out a World Cup warning in Lahore yesterday as he inspired super relaxed Pakistan to victory over Holland, their second win inside three days. Waqar, with one eye on chief group B rivals South Africa, tore through Holland's batting to set up an eight wicket victory achieved with almost 20 overs to spare.

The Dutch were left shell shocked after being reduced to 145 for seven. Pakistan's captain Wasim Akram was left smiling broadly.

"Waqar's the kind of bowler who needs his rhythm. He just needed three or four wickets. He's bowling very quick now, and brilliantly. That's very good news for Pakistan," he said.

Pakistan, who play Hansie Cronje's side in Karachi on Thursday in a likely group decider, saw their total superiority over the qualifiers confirmed by top scorer Saccd Anwar's huge six off the final ball of the match. But his fine form he ended unbeaten on 83 meant the rest of the batting lineup, for the second game in a row, failed to get to the crease.

Holland, reduced to 29 for three early on as Waqar and Aqib Javed tore into them, spent the rest of the innings trying to scratch out a respectable total. A 73 run partnership by Klaas van Noortwijk, who made 33, and Flavian Aponso, who ended on 58, helped the Dutch towards self respect but could not break the stranglehold.

Yesterday's group A match at Patna between Zimbabwe and Kenya was abandoned due to rain.