The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That's all from us then! We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this Asia Cup 2023 encounter between Pakistan and Nepal. This is Soumarya Dutta signing off on behalf of Sooryanaryanan Sesha. See you soon!
Pakistan have begun the Asia Cup 2023 in some style as they've blown away Nepal here in Multan. It was a phenomenal performance from them and it was led by skipper Babar Azam, who in the form of his life, notched up yet another hundred. From here, Pakistan will travel to Sri Lanka and they will be up against Arch rivals India and that will be some contest in itself. Nepal on the other hand, will have to go back to the drawing board and look to rectify and learn from the mistakes that they made.
Babar Azam, Pakistan Captain and Player of the Match - Thanks to the Almighty!! The wicket was a bit two paced and myself and Rizwan tried to build a partnership first and then accelerated. Both of us gave confidence to each other and towards the end, even Iftikhar came in and played a gem of an innings. I asked him to play his natural game and after a couple of boundaries he settled in and smacked it all over the park after the 40th over. I'm satisfied with the way fast bowlers started and the way spinners responded. A win always gives us confidence and our confidence is really high. The next match is a big one and we're prepared for it.
The post match presentation is coming up!
Shadab Khan: It was hot and humid. We came from Sri Lanka and it was hot as well but there was some rain there. Here it was humid but as a professional you just have to play. (On Babar and Iftikhar) Don't need to say much about Babar. Iftikhar looked to take it deep and show his power-hitting. Whenever he gets an opportunity he shows how good he is for us. Today he showed again how great an asset he is for us. The fast-bowlers provided a real good platform for us. We have a world-class bowling unit - Shaheen and Naseem started well before Haris backed it up well. Condition-wise it may be a bit different because it's a little flatter in Multan. I think Kandy might be different but I've never played there. We have a lot of confidence in each other and that's the beauty of the Pakistan cricket team.
Rohit Kumar Paudel (Nepal captain): I think we started well. 40 overs, restricting them below 230-240 (was good). Then the two batters Babar and Iftikhar were set. They took the game away from us. After that we missed out with the bat. The wicket-taking balls weren't there in the middle overs but credit goes to Babar for the way he batted. Learning from the game, we need to improve in the death overs. The batting unit, we need to step up as a group.
Nepal 104 all out in 23.4 overs Sompal Kami 28(46) | Shadab Khan 4/27 Aarif Sheikh 26(38) | Haris Rauf 2/18
23.4 OVERS!! That's all it took for Pakistan to bundle Nepal out and register a stupendous win to open their Asia Cup campaign in front of a jubilant home crowd here in Multan. They have won by a massive margin of 238 runs and it will do their confidence a world of good as they go ahead in this tournament. Nepal had a massive total to chase and their inexperience was on show as they folded up for just 104.
Kushal Bhurtel began the run chase in style as he struck back to back boundaries but Shaheen came back strongly as he ended the over with two consecutive wickets. There was a good partnership in the middle as Sompal and Aarif put up some resistance in their 59 run partnership however once Aarif Sheikh was dismissed the flood gates opened and from there the Nepalese middle order surrendered meekly. The lower order batters tried to take on the spinners but they failed to read them and ended up gifting their wickets. In the end, the Pakistani bowlers proved to be just too good for them .
The rout was started by Shaheen Afridi as he picked up two wickets in his first over and Naseem Shah also picked up a wicket in the powerplay. There was a partnership in the middle but it was Haris Rauf who picked up both the set batters with some absolute rippers. Once he had dismissed the two set batters, Shadab Khan came in and he weaved his magic as he ran through the Nepalese lower order. He ended up with four wickets and became the pick of the bowlers.
Overall, it has been an superb beginning to their campaign for Pakistan and they've put up a stunning performance. It was a historic occasion for Nepal too but it turned out to be a reality check for them. They stayed in the game for a long time with the ball but with the bat, they were just outclassed by a far more superior side. They will take a lot of learnings from this game as they move on to their next big opponent India.
Shadab Khan has wrapped things up here and PAKISTAN have won by a massive margin of 238 runs!!
23.4 Shadab Khan to Lalit Rajbanshi, LBW! Rajbanshi reviews as he should! Another googly drifting in full at the stumps with Rajbanshi pressing forward in defense. Beats the inside edge comfortably to pin him in front of leg stump. Seemed adjacent enough on first look although Rajbanshihad to review it either which way. Fair delivery.
Absolutely no bat involved and it's smashing leg stump. Wraps up a comprehensive victory for Pakistan who get off the mark in Asia Cup 2023 with a massive 238-run win!
Lalit Rajbanshi lbw b Shadab Khan 0 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
23.3 Shadab Khan to Lalit Rajbanshi, OH! Back of a length googly outside the off stump. A hint of extra bounce as it turns in before Rajbanshi jabs forward to punch it back on the up
Lalit Rajbanshi, RHB, comes to the crease.
Third one for Shadab and it's the ninth one that has gone down for Nepal!! Just one more wicket needed for Pakistan to clean things up now and this should be a formality,
23.2 Shadab Khan to Kushal Malla, CATCHING PRACTICE! Tossed up full on the off stump as Malla swings through the line of it. Just does not get enough elevation though and spoons a sitter into the hands of Iftikhar at mid-off. He can't put a foot wrong today alright but the same can't be said of Nepal, who have now lost their ninth wicket!
Kushal Malla c Iftikhar Ahmed b Shadab Khan 6(4b, 0x4, 1x6)
23.1 Shadab Khan to Karan KC, loopy leg-break outside the off stump. On a good length and Karan hangs back before punching it for a single to deep cover
Kushal Malla struck a massive six in that over to bring up the 100 for Nepal but that won't bother Nawaz much. He is in with a chance to pick up a wicket as long as the batters are looking to target him.
23
overs
103/8score
4
0
0
1
6
0
runs
Kushal Malla*
6(3)
Karan KC
6(5)
Mohammad Nawaz
1/13
22.6 Mohammad Nawaz to Kushal Malla, corrects his length just outside the off stump this time. Malla gets behind it to punch it back to the bowler
WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?? Malla has used the long handle and it has brought up the 100 for Nepal.
22.5 Mohammad Nawaz to Kushal Malla, SIX! LAUNCHED! Right in the arc outside the off stump and Malla lines it up with a booming slog sweep. Clobbers it high into the sky and sends it even further back over the advertising hoardings
22.4 Mohammad Nawaz to Karan KC, full around the off stump. Karan gets forward and rolls his wrists to work it through mid-off for a single. The throw hits the stumps on the full well after the batter makes his ground
22.3 Mohammad Nawaz to Karan KC, full length delivery outside the off stump. Karan opens the face to guide it to backward point, no run
Video
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Kushal Malla
*
Mohammad Nawaz
Multan Cricket Stadium
