PAK vs NEP Highlights: Pakistan clinched a 238-run victory in the opening Asia Cup match against Nepal

Cricket returned to Pakistan after a long time, Asia Cup 2023 (Asia Cup 2023) was held in Pakistan. Pakistan vs Nepal (PAK vs NEP) on August 30 is held at the famous Multan Cricket Ground in Pakistan. After a long tussle with the BCCI, the Asia Cup is finally going to be held across Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat in this match. After setting a target of 342 runs in front of Nepal, they were all out by only 102 runs.

Pakistan faced problems in the power play

The two openers of the team gave a good start when they came to bat first. However, Imam Ul Haq completely failed to perform against a weak team like Nepal, he was run out for 5 runs. First, Fakhar Zaman returned to the pavilion after making 14 off 20 balls off Karan KC.

A partnership developed between Babar Azam and Rizwan

Captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan shouldered the responsibility of the team. But Rizwan returned to the pavilion after making 44 runs off 50 balls. The two put on an 86-run partnership and Rizwan was run out on his own and returned to the pavilion. However, after that, Agha Salman returned to the pavilion off Sandeep Lamishan after making 5 runs off just 14 balls.

Babar got a second chance

Pakistan lost 4 wickets for 124 runs. But after that, Captain Babar (Babar Azam) took the responsibility of the team. However, in the 29th over, Karan KC miscued a simple catch by Babar Azam which brought Babar back to life and completed his half-century.

Babar built a partnership of 214 runs with Ifthika

After getting the second chance, Babar Azam started to play quite defensively and Iftikhar on the other hand became quite aggressive. Iftikhar completed his fifty in a very short time. But it did not end there, he built a partnership of 214 runs with Babar. Both the batsmen scored hundreds in this match, making 151 runs from 131 balls and the captain of the Pakistan team returned to the pavilion. Iftikhar Ahmed made 109 runs from 71 balls and took the team to 342 runs.

Shaheen took the wicket in the first over

Kushal Bhurtel hit Shaheen Afridi for a four in the first two balls as Pahar chased the same target. But the ball swung lightly towards Shaheen’s leg and was caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan while glancing at the ball. Shaheen picked up his first wicket on the fifth ball of the over, while also leading the way to the pavilion by beating captain Rohit Paudel with a trademark yorker on the second ball.

Nepal lost top order batsman in power play

After losing two wickets in the first over, Naseem Shah, who came to bowl in the second over, took the wicket of Asif Sheikh and sent the top 3 batsmen to the pavilion within 14 runs in the first two overs to call the Pakistani opening two.

Nepalese batsmen started to fight back

Arif Sheikh and Sampal Kami gave some confidence to the Nepal team which was under pressure from the start. These two batsmen did not give wickets to Shaheen or Naseem after losing 3 wickets in the power play. A partnership of 49 runs was formed between the two.

Arif-Sampal lost wickets in two successive overs

After failing to take more than 3 wickets in the powerplay, Harris Rauf came in to bowl and sent Arif Sheikh back to the pavilion with the fourth ball of the 15th over. Sampal Kami, who made 26 runs from 28 balls and then made 28 runs from 46 balls, returned to the pavilion with Rauf’s ball.

Nepali batsmen fail in front of spinners

After losing 5 wickets for 82 runs, the captain handed over the charge of the match to Babar Shadab and Mohammad Nawaz. Nepal lost 5 wickets in just 12 runs and Pakistan won the first match by 238 runs.