Asia Cup: Babar, Iftikhar and bowlers dismantle Nepal as Pakistan win by 238 runs

Pakistan made small work of their Asia Cup 2023 opener against Nepal as they won the match by 238 runs. Chasing a huge total of 343 in 50 overs, Nepal was never in contention against the pace trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf and got bundled out for a paltry 104 runs in 23.4 overs.

Earlier, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed hit centuries for Pakistan after some early fall of wickets to help them post 300+. With the win, Pakistan got two points to their name to be on top of Group A.

Nepal, playing for the first time in the regional tournament, had a horrible start of their chase as they lost two wickets in the first over itself to Shaheen Shah Afridi. Naseem Shah struck in the very next over and Nepal were three down for 14 inside two overs.

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Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami then added 59 runs for the fourth wicket in an attempt to revive the chase. Haris Rauf, however, rendered the attempt futile as he took out both batsmen in two overs to leave Nepal five down for 82 after 17 overs.

Spinners then took over the proceedings as Mohammad Nawaz sent back Dipendra Singh Airee in the 21st over before Shadab Khan wreaked havoc. The leg-spinner accounted for rest of the four wickets including final two in space of three balls to finish 4/27 in 6.4 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first in Multan. Nepal struck early and sent back both openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, in 6.1 overs. Babar Azam, who scored a magnificent 151, then added 86 runs with Mohammad Rizwan (44) before the latter got run out in a bizarre manner.

Nepal created an opening in 28th over of the innings by taking Agha Salman (5) out shortly after Rizwan's wicket but that was the last they celebrated. Iftikhar Ahmed (109 not out) joined his captain on the crease and the duo added 214 runs for the fifth wicket before Pak lost two wickets in last over while trying to accelerate.

For Nepal, Sompal Kami took wickets while Karan KC and Sandeep Lamichhane took one each. Pakistan next play India on September 2 in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

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