Pakistan showcased an exceptional performance against Nepal, beating them by an impressive 238 runs in the inaugural match of the Asia Cup 2023, held at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
The home team displayed dominance from the outset, leaving no stone unturned in their execution against the visitors. Coming into the Asia Cup with great momentum, Pakistan recently secured the top spot in the ICC ODI team rankings following their impeccable 3-0 series victory over Afghanistan in Sri Lanka.
The prowess of Shadab Khan stood out. He captured four wickets, conceding a mere 27 runs, driving the Green Shirts to their commanding win. Nepal couldn’t find their footing and were bundled out for a paltry 104 runs. Dynamic performances by Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps and Fakhar Zaman in the outfield during the second innings amplified Pakistan’s dominance on the field. The young prodigy, Shaheen Shah Afridi, continued his habit of early strikes by dispatching two Nepali batsmen in the inaugural over.
Batting Brilliance: Azam and Ahmed Shine
Earlier in the game, Pakistan, having won the toss and electing to bat, put up an intimidating score of 342-6 in their quota of 50 overs. The batting maestros, Captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed were at the forefront, crafting scintillating centuries.
Ahmed’s explosive innings concluded unbeaten at 109 from just 71 balls, studded with 11 boundaries and four maximums. On the other hand, Azam, playing a class apart, registered 151 runs from 131 deliveries, including 18 hits to the fence. Azam’s batting masterclass enabled him to surpass the record held by ex-South African batter Hashim Amla, becoming the fastest to 19 ODI centuries, achieving the feat in 102 innings.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Pakistan. An early setback saw them stuttering at 25-2, with both openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, back in the pavilion. The resilient Azam then forged a pivotal 86-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan, who contributed a sturdy 44 from 50 balls before being unfortunately run out. Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Salman Agha could not make a significant impact. Yet, the partnership between Azam and Ahmed, amassing 214 runs from a mere 131 balls, turned the tables decisively in Pakistan’s favour.
It was a landmark game for both the Nepali team and the venue, Multan, as they marked their debut in the Asia Cup. This encounter also signified the first face-off between Pakistan and Nepal in top-tier cricket.
Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.
