In a one-sided encounter between hosts Pakistan and Nepal, Pakistan showcased their absolute dominance over Nepal in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2023 at Multan Cricket Stadium. Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam set a monumental target of 343 runs for Nepal. The Nepal side, in response, struggled to handle the relentless Pakistani bowling attack and managed only 104 runs, conceding a staggering 238-run victory to Pakistan.
Top Performers of the Match
Pakistani captain Babar Azam played a monstrous and mature innings, amassing 151 runs off 131 deliveries, including 14 boundaries and 4 sixes, at a strike rate of 115.27. With this performance, Babar Azam achieved his 19th ODI century in just 102 innings, making him the fastest batter to reach 19 centuries in the 50-over format.
This accomplishment shattered the previous records held by Hashim Amla (104 innings), Virat Kohli (124 innings), and David Warner (139 innings). Notably, this marked Babar Azam’s second 150-plus score in ODIs, positioning him with the second-highest individual score by a Pakistan captain in ODI cricket.
Middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed exhibited his hard-hitting prowess by scoring a breathtaking 109 runs (not out) off 71 balls, adorned with 11 fours and 4 sixes, at a blistering strike rate of 153.52. This remarkable Maiden century by Iftikhar was achieved in just 67 balls, ranking as the fourth-fastest century by a Pakistani batsman.
Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed’s partnership of 214 runs for the fifth wicket stood out as the third-highest partnership for any wicket in the history of the ODI Asia Cup, cementing their names in the tournament’s record books.
Pakistani spin-bowling all-rounder Shadab Khan played a pivotal role, securing 4 crucial wickets in his spell of 6.4 overs for just 27 runs. Alongside Shadab Khan’s brilliance, pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi contributed significantly, each taking 2 wickets.
Shaheen Shah Afridi’s impact was immediate, as he dismissed Kushal Bhurtel and Nepal’s skipper Rohit Paudel in the opening over itself. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bowling figures were 5-0-27-2, while Haris Rauf finished with figures of 5-1-16-2.
Pakistan Too Good for the Freshers Nepal
In their debut appearance in the Asia Cup, Nepal faced a formidable challenge against the experienced Pakistani side. Pakistan’s dominance was evident as they secured a comfortable victory over Nepal, underscoring the vast gap in experience between the two teams.
Nepal’s qualification for the 2023 Asia Cup came through their triumph in the 2023 ACC Men’s Premier Cup marked a significant achievement, granting them the opportunity to compete against cricketing giants like India and Pakistan. While the loss against Pakistan was a setback, Nepal has the chance to regroup and learn from the experience as they gear up to face India on 4th September in Pallekele.
Nepal’s bowlers initially displayed their mettle, making early inroads into the Pakistani batting lineup by dismissing Fakhar Zaman for 14 and Imam-ul-Haq for 5. With both openers back in the pavilion, Pakistan was reeling at 25/2. However, a resilient partnership between Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan turned the tide for the home side.
The duo put together a solid 86-run stand for the third wicket, helping Pakistan regain momentum and cross the triple-digit mark. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the partnership was cut short due to an unfortunate run-out of Rizwan. In a seemingly casual attempt at a single in the 24th over, Rizwan failed to ground his bat properly, falling victim to an exceptional direct hit by Nepal’s fielder, Dipendra Singh. The dismissal marked a turning point in the match, disrupting Pakistan’s flow.
Following Rizwan’s departure, Salman Ali Agha took to the crease with an opportunity to make an impact and gain valuable game time ahead of the crucial clash with India. However, his innings ended prematurely at just 5 runs as he succumbed to Sandeep Lamichhane’s bowling.
Salman Ali Agha’s dismissal proved to be the final success for Nepal, as Pakistan’s dominance took center stage from that point onward. With Agha’s wicket, Nepal’s fortunes took a downturn, and the match turned into a one-way traffic affair with Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed steering Pakistan’s charge and asserting control over the proceedings. Their commanding performance highlighted the gulf in class between the two sides, ultimately leading to a comprehensive victory for Pakistan.
“Wicket Taking Balls Were Missing in Middle Overs, but Credit to Babar” – Nepal Skipper Reflects on Defeat
Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel admitted that the side couldn’t take wickets in the middle overs phase. He attributed their loss to the absence of wicket-taking deliveries in the middle overs.
“We started well with the ball, but both set batters took the game away from us. We have batted better before and we missed out today. Wicket taking balls were not there in middle overs, but credit to Babar for the way he batted, credit to Pakistan. Learning from the game would be we need to improve bowling in death overs, as a group we need to step up with the bat,”
Both teams will now travel to Pallekele to play their second match of the group stage against India, with Pakistan facing India on the 2nd of September, and Nepal facing India on the 4th of September at the same venue.
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