On August 30, 2023, Pakistan announced their presence in the Asia Cup by defeating Nepal in a much-anticipated match at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Pakistan showed their batting prowess in the match, scoring 342 for 6 in their 50 overs, which proved to be a very difficult target for Nepal and they were bowled out for 104 runs.
BABAR AZAM IS LEADING
Pakistan captain Babar Azam was the star of the show. He displayed excellent batting form, scoring an incredible 151 runs off 131 balls with 14 boundaries and 4 sixes. His brilliant century laid the foundation for Pakistan’s mammoth score and earned him the Man of the Match award.
STRONG CONTRIBUTION BY PAKISTANI BATSMEN
Apart from Azam, several other Pakistani batsmen have made valuable contributions. Iftikhar Ahmed was unbeaten on 109 off just 71 balls, an innings with 11 boundaries and 4 sixes. Mohammad Rizwan also scored 44 runs. The Pakistani batsmen’s ability to rotate strikes and find the fence took their team to a commanding score of 342/6.
NEPAL’S BOWLING STRUGGLE
It was challenging for the Nepalese bowlers to contain Pakistan’s aggressive batting line-up. Sompal Kami and Karan KC took two wickets each. However, they failed to stem the flow of runs, with Pakistan maintaining a run rate of 6.84 throughout their innings.
DISAPPOINTING RESPONSE FROM NEPAL
Chasing a mammoth target of 343 runs, Nepal’s batting order struggled from the start. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf took two wickets each to put Nepal on the backfoot. None of Nepal’s batsmen could play a significant innings, with Arif Sheikh scoring the maximum 26 runs.
SHADAB KHAN’S SPIN MAGIC
The spin duo of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz proved to be a torment for Nepal. Shadab Khan took four important wickets and Nawaz took one wicket. Their combined efforts broke Nepal’s batting line-up and they were bowled out for just 104 runs.
PAKISTAN STARTED THE ASIA CUP MISSION
Pakistan sent a strong message to their Asia Cup rivals with this impressive win. Their clinical performances showcased their batting depth and bowling skills, making them early contenders in the tournament.
CONCLUSION
Pakistan’s impressive win over Nepal in the opening match of the Asia Cup proved their readiness for the competition. Led by Babar Azam’s brilliant century and aided by a superb all-round team performance, Pakistan look set to be a force to be reckoned with in the tournament. On the other hand, Nepal will need to regroup and come back stronger in their upcoming matches to make an impact in this prestigious competition. For comprehensive coverage and latest updates, read more on Babu88Sports .
