Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed hit centuries as Pakistan crush Nepal in opener

World number one batter Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scored punishing centuries as Pakistan annihilated Nepal by 238 runs in the opening game of the Asia Cup 2023 in Multan on Wednesday.

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Skipper Babar Azam smashed a 131-ball 151 for his 19th ODI hundred while Iftikhar Ahmed scored an unbeaten 109 in 71 balls for his first as Pakistan piled up 342-6 in 50 overs.

1️⃣5️⃣1️⃣ runs
1️⃣3️⃣1️⃣ balls
1️⃣4️⃣ fours
4️⃣ sixes

Pakistan skipper @babarazam258 is player of the match for his stunning knock 🌟#PAKvNEP | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/muBXEmz6Vf

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 30, 2023

6️⃣7️⃣-ball 💯 – 3️⃣rd fastest century in ODIs in Pakistan 💪

A special maiden ODI hundred for @IftiMania 👏#PAKvNEP | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/GfdlPTS3j4

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 30, 2023

The home team then bundled out Nepal for a mere 104 in 23.4 overs with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking 4-27 while the pace duo of Haris Rauf took 2-16 and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-27.

Asia Cup campaign begins in style! 💪

4️⃣ wickets for @76Shadabkhan as Pakistan achieve their third-highest margin of victory in ODIs ✨#PAKvNEP | #AsiaCup2023 pic.twitter.com/GmTk0tKCbp

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) August 30, 2023

Only Sompal Kami (28), Aarif Sheikh (26) and Gulsan Jha (13) made it into double figures as they struggled against Pakistan’s much-vaunted bowling attack.

The win gives Pakistan, who rose to world number one in the ODI rankings last week, an ideal start and tune up for the high-profile clash against arch-rivals India in Pallekele on Saturday.

The Asia Cup 2023 is being played on a hybrid model this year with Pakistan hosting four matches and Sri Lanka nine after India refused to tour Pakistan because of political tensions.

Pakistan, India and Nepal are in Group A while title-holders Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh meet in Pallekele on Thursday.

Nepal, playing in the Asia Cup for the first time, had bowled well to keep the home team down to 124-4 in the 28th over but were clueless in the final overs against the onslaught from Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed.

The pair added a robust 214 off 131 balls for the fifth wicket, which took Pakistan to a formidable total.

Babar Azam cracked 14 boundaries and four sixes while Iftikhar Ahmed hit 11 boundaries and four sixes, helping Pakistan to 129 runs in the last 10 overs including 67 in the final five.

Babar Azam was dropped on 55 when Karan Chhetri put down a caught-and-bowled chance, while Nepal’s ground fielding also often faltered.

Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman for 14 in the sixth over, while Imam-ul-Haq was run out for five to leave Pakistan tottering at 25-2.

Babar Azam added 86 for the third wicket with Mohammad Rizwan (44) before the latter was also run out. Agha Salman fell for five, leaving the captain and Iftikhar Ahmed to mount a rescue operation.

Iftikhar Ahmed’s previous best ODI score was 94 not out against New Zealand in Karachi this year.

Fast bowler Sompal Kami was the best for Nepal with 2-85.