Asia Cup 2023: Babar And Iftikhar Scored Centuries As Pakistan Completes A Comprehensive Victory Over Nepal
Asia Cup 2023:
Pakistan completed a comprehensive victory by 238 runs in its first group-stage match against Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium in the Asia Cup 2023.
The captain of Pakistan, Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat first in the first match of the Asia Cup 2023.
FIRST INNINGS:
Pakistan was in some sort of trouble when Nepal dismissed both of the Pakistani openers, Fakhar Zaman, and Imam Ul Haq for low scores.
Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan were successful in creating a good partnership but Rizwan ran himself out in quite a bizarre fashion on 44 runs from 50 deliveries.
Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam took charge as they scored 214 runs partnership in the middle overs for Pakistan, this was the highest partnership by Pakistan for the 5th wicket in an ODI match.
Skipper Babar Azam completed his 19th ODI century, followed by Iftikhar Ahmed who scored his maiden century in ODI cricket against Nepal.
Pakistan scored a total of 342 in the first innings against Nepal. Babar Azam played a crucial role here as he came in at 25-2 and scored 151 runs on 131 deliveries, with the help of fourteen fours and four sixes.
SECOND INNINGS:
Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah started the damage as they dismissed both the openers for single-digit scores in the run chase of 342 runs.
Even though, Shaheen and Naseem dented Nepal’s batting lineup in the powerplay, but there was a good 50+ partnership between Arif Sheikh and Sompal Kami before Haris Rauf dismissed both batters in his fiery spell.
After that, Shadab Khan joined the party, picked up four wickets in 6.4 overs and gave away just 27 runs. As a result, Nepal’s batting lineup was dismissed for just 104 runs in a chase of 343 runs.
No batter from Nepal stepped up in the run chase. Shadab Khan picked four wickets, Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi with two wickets, followed by a wicket each for Naseem Shah, and Muhammad Nawaz.
Pakistan’s bowling lineup made a collective effort as Pakistan dismissed Nepal for just 104 runs and won the match by 238 runs in the opener of the Asia Cup 2023.
