• Source:JND
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Pakistan kicked off their Asia Cup 2023 campaign in style as they thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the first game of the tournament in Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan on Wednesday.

Shadab Khan picked up two wickets in the over to end up with four and restrict Nepal to just 104 runs and clinch a massive victory.

Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf provided great support, picking up two wickets each while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Nawaz ended up with a wicket each as well.

Earlier, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam put up an incredible performance with the bat, smashing his 19th ODI century, and went on to score 151 runs in just 131 balls.

He stitched a crucial 214-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed for the sixth wicket and promised his team a mammoth total of 342/6 in their 50 overs.

Babar after winning the toss decided to bat first before they lost both the openers Fakhar Zaman and Imam ul Haq early in the innings.

The skipper was then joined by Mohammed Rizwan as the duo added 86 runs for the third wicket before the latter's bizarre run-out dismissal in the 24th over.

Agha Salman was quick to depart as he fell prey to Sandeep Lamichhane for 5 runs in the 28th over before Iftikhar came to the crease to join his captain.

Iftikhar put up a dominant performance, smashing his maiden ODI century in just 67 balls as he hit 11 fours and four sixes in his attacking innings.

Babar, who became the fastest batter to smash 19 ODI tons, hit 14 fours and four sixes in his record-breaking innings. He was adjudged as player of the match for his entertaining stuff in the tournament opener.

"When I went in, the ball wasn't coming on properly, so I was trying to build an innings with Rizwan. Then we had a different phase, sometimes Rizwan gave me confidence, and sometimes I gave him belief. Iftikhar also played a great innings when he came on. When he came in, I told him to play his natural game and he was comfortable after 2-3 boundaries. After a couple of overs, we weren't up to the mark, but the way our pacers started and then the spinners were brilliant. This win will give us confidence, that India Pakistan will always bring high intensity, and we will try our best,"

Pakistan will be up against the arch-rivals India in their next match in Pallekele on Saturday, September 2 with the latter opening their campaign with the high-voltage fixture.