Asia Cup: Pakistan defeated Nepal by 238 runs

 

Asia Cup: Pakistan defeated Nepal by 238 runs

Nazmul Hasan Nirob:

The hosts Pakistan and Nepal faced each other in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the Multan Stadium. After winning the toss and batting first, Pakistan collected 342 runs after losing 5 wickets in the scheduled 50 overs. 

As a result, Nepal's target stood at 343 runs. At the end of 23.4 overs, the Himalayan country scored 104 runs after going to bat at this target. That's how the Pakistan cricket team started the Asia Cup with a big victory of 238 runs.

On this day, the two openers of Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel and Asif Sheikh, failed to bat at the target. Captain Rohit Paudel also could not last long. Kushal and Rohit departed in the first over of the innings.

Nepal lost two wickets for 10 runs. Kushal scored 8 runs and on the other hand, Nepal captain Rohit walked to the pavilion after being lbw by Shaheen Shah Afridi for zero runs.

Opener Asif also could not score more runs. After 14 runs, Naseem Shah took a catch in the hands of Iftikhar Ahmed and returned to the dressing room. This opener of Nepal scored 5 runs in 5 balls. However, two batsmen, Arif Sheikh and Sompal Kami, tried to lift Nepal, which was in danger after losing 3 wickets. The two made a big partnership of 59 runs off 78 balls. Nepal tried to overcome the failure of the top order in that pair.

Rauf brought back Arif who scored 26 runs from 38 balls. Rauf also dismissed Kami who was holding one end. The highest innings of 28 off 46 balls for Nepal came from his bat before being dismissed.

Rauf brought back Arif who scored 26 runs from 38 balls. Rauf also dismissed Kami who was holding one end. The highest innings of 28 off 46 balls for Nepal came from his bat before being dismissed.

Earlier Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to bat. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq opened the innings for the hosts. Fakhar opened the bat from the beginning of the match. On the other hand, Imam tried to settle down on the wicket.

In the fifth over of the match, Imam took the catch while playing a full wide length ball from Sompal Kami. But the Nepal fielder missed that chance. But Nepal did not have to wait long to get success.

Fakhar Zaman was palmed by Karan KC on the third ball of the sixth over by Asif Sheikh. Fakhar's flying innings stopped at 14 runs.

Then Pakistan captain Babar Azam came to 22 yards. He led the team's innings with Imam. But the hosts were under a bit of pressure due to Nepal's controlled bowling.

Imam was run out on the first ball of the seventh over of the match by Sompal Kami's brilliant throw. He returned to the dressing room before settling on the wicket. He scored 5 runs on a boundary before being run out.

Mohammad Rizwan came to the crease after Imam's departure. Babar Azam relieved Pakistan of pressure with him. But in the 24th over of the match, Rizwan was stopped by Sandeep Lamichane.

Sandeep runs out Rizwan with a great throw from cover to the non-striker edge. Pakistan's top order had to stop at 44 runs.

Then Aga Salman came to twenty two yards. However, before settling down on the wicket, he was caught by Vurtel at short third off Lamichan. Pakistan is under pressure by losing wickets at regular intervals.

However, Babar-Iftikhar's duo is safe for Pakistan. Iftikhar took the second fifty of his ODI career with the first ball of the 42nd over of the match. Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored his 19th career century with the next ball.

Then the two slowly started to face the Nepalese bowlers. Pakistan crossed 300 hundred runs with the bat of two. At this time, Babar reached the milestone of 150 runs for the second time in his career. He scored 150 runs off just 129 balls.

On the other hand, Iftikhar Ahmed reached the magic figure for the first time in his ODI career. This batsman completed 100 runs in just 67 balls.

When Babar got out in the 49th over of the game, Shadab Khan entered the field. Pakistan cricket team scored 342 runs after losing 5 wickets at the end of the scheduled over in the pair of them.

Sompal Kami took two wickets for Nepal. Another wicket was taken by Karan LC and Sandeep Lamichane.