On Wednesday, Pakistan trounced Nepal by 238 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 at Multan Cricket Stadium. The hosts outclassed the visitors in every aspect of the game, playing a comprehensive game. Pakistan maintained their outstanding form following a strong start to the Asia Cup, topping the ICC ODI rankings on Saturday after a 3-0 thrashing of Afghanistan in Sri Lanka. Read out complete details about Pakistan beat Nepal 238 runs in opener down below.
Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan beat Nepal 238 runs in opener
Shadab Khan claimed four wickets for 27 runs and was important in the Green Shirts’ big-margin victory, as the visitors were all out for 104 runs. The highlights of the match’s second innings were Mohammad Rizwan’s blinder behind the wicket and Fakhar Zaman’s amazing catch. In the first over, Shaheen Shah Afridi did what he does best, sending two Nepali hitters back to the pavilion.
Pakistan had earlier set a mammoth total of 342-6 in 50 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. With stunning centuries, Captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed led the way for Pakistan. Ahmed finished unbeaten on 109 runs in 71 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes. Meanwhile, Azam was out after 151 runs in 131 balls, including 14 fours and four sixes. Azam, 28, shattered the record of former South African batsman Hashim Amla by becoming the fastest player to 19 ODI hundreds.
He did it in just 102 innings, whereas Amla did it in 104. It should be mentioned that Babar Azam came to bat after Pakistan had an early collapse, when they were 25-2 after Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq were bowled. The 28-year-old batsman stood tall on the crease and had an 86-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan before being run out in an unusual manner. Rizwan made 44 runs off 50 balls.
After Rizwan fell, Salman Agha (5) came to bat, but he, too, did not last long, falling to Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane while attempting a reverse-sweep stroke. Following Agha’s dismissal, Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed put on a good partnership of 214 runs in only 131 balls. Nepal, as a team, and Multan, as a venue, made their Asia Cup debuts. It was also Pakistan and Nepal’s first match at the highest level.
Lineups
Nepal:Â 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:Â 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
