Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan defeats Nepal by 238 runs

The Asia Cup’s inaugural match is in the books, as the co-hosts soundly defeated this year’s rookie. Nepal has been defeated by Pakistan by 238 runs. Iftikhar Ahmed and Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, both shone in the first innings with their hundreds. Here is a brief summary of the game.

Pakistan goes big in the first innings

The Pakistani side made the appropriate decision to bat first against Nepal after winning the toss since the fast-bowling Pakistani trio of Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf would have had difficulty fielding and bowling in the hot conditions. Before their match against India on Saturday, the “Men in Green” wouldn’t want any of their fast bowlers to get a niggle or an injury. 

Pakistan in trouble early on in the innings

An inning that may be divided into two parts was played by the co-hosts. Only 44 runs were scored during the first 10-over powerplay, but more significantly, Pakistan lost both of its openers. Fakhar Zaman was removed for a caught behind after making a solid start and scoring 14 runs in 20 balls. Imam-ul-Haq lately showed signs of being quite uneasy against the Nepalese spinners after winning the series against Afghanistan. Imam got out after Rohit Paudel, the captain of Nepal, played an outstanding game of fielding. 

Babar and Rizwan steady the ship

Pakistan needed to establish a partnership after losing the first two wickets inside the eighth over. It was difficult for Pakistani captain Babar and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan to maintain the batting innings. Before Rizwan was unfortunately run out, the pair shared an 86-run third-wicket stand. When Rizwan was fired, he had just turned 50, which was well-earned. For a quick single, the wicketkeeper had pushed the ball to cover point. The throw was made by Dipendra Singh, and Rizwan saw the run coming on but didn’t ground his bat because he felt the ball would hit him.

Although he joined his captain, Agha Salman was worried by the Nepalese bowlers. Only five runs in 14 balls were scored during his brief time at the crease. In order to get rid of the fourth Pakistani batter, Kushal Bhurtel made an incredible catch while diving forward. He was out while playing a reverse sweep to Sandeep Lamichhane.

Nepal loses the plot

Nepal lost its way and suffered the price after dismissing the fourth Pakistani batter. Iftikhar Ahmed, who had recently struggled with form, followed his captain in utilizing the pitch’s favourable batting conditions. When the second drinks arrived after 33 overs, Pakistan had amassed 157 runs, and Nepal had contained everyone but Babar of their batters. After the drinks break, the captain unexpectedly gave Kushal Bhurtel the ball, and in his one and only over, he gave up 10 runs. The Pakistani batters received some much-needed relief from his over. After the break for drinks, the team led by Babar Azam went on to score 56 runs in 7 overs, but it was only the prelude to what was to come.

Babar and Iftikhar go big in the last 10 overs

Pakistan had 213 runs at the end of the 40th over, and they concluded with over 350 runs. In the final 10 overs, the co-hosts tallied 129 runs. Gulsan Jha gave up 14 runs in the 43rd over, followed by 13 runs in the over after it from Dipendra and 20 runs from Sompal Kami in the over after that. Lamichhane was asked to bowl the 46th over by his skipper but the Pakistani pair unleashed their wrath on the leg spinner hitting him for 19 runs.

Babar was out in the final over after scoring an impressive 151 runs off just 131 balls. Iftikhar needed just 67 balls to reach his first century. Iftikhar’s century ranks as the sixth-fastest by a Pakistani batsman in ODIs. The greatest partnership for Pakistan’s fourth or lower wicket in ODIs currently stands at 214 runs between Babar and Iftikhar.

Shaheen and Naseem strike early

Shaheen Shah Afridi is renowned for taking wickets in the opening over, and he did just that against a top-order from Nepal with some inexperience. Shaheen dismissed Bhurtel with a strangle down the leg side on just his fifth ball. He bowled skipper Paudel his signature in-winging delivery on the subsequent delivery, dismissing him for a golden duck. 

Along with Shaheen, who shared the new ball, Naseem also recorded a wicket in his opening over. Naseem produced a fullish out-swinger pitched up on the fourth stump line with his fourth delivery of the game. Aasif Sheikh attempted to defend but was only able to edge the ball to the first slip, where Iftikhar Ahmed, the first-innings centurion, collected a straightforward catch.

Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami put up a fight

Before Haris Rauf was able to dismiss them, Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami put up a 59-run partnership and frustrated the Pakistani bowlers. Aarif Sheikh’s awkward knock came to an end as he backed away from a nice length delivery from Rauf and absolutely missed the ball as it struck the middle stump. Mohammad Rizwan’s breathtaking catch behind the stumps that led to Sompal’s dismissal. Rizwan’s dive enabled him to cling onto the catch after Rauf caused the outside edge that was headed towards the area between the first slip and the wicketkeeper.

With just his fifth ball of the game, Mohammad Nawaz eliminated Dipendra Singh. Shadab Khan grabbed two wickets in the subsequent over, removing Gulsan Jha and Sandeep Lamichhane. Shadab once again picked up two wickets in his next over to dismiss Nepal for 104 runs.