'Class apart' - Twitter in awe as Babar's brilliance, Iftikhar's demolition job push Pakistan to 342/6

Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed's brilliant tons helped Pakistan to reach a great total in the opener of the Asia Cup against Nepal.

By Ahsan Jami

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Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed
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Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed. (Photo Source: ASIF HASSAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Pakistan took on Nepal in their Asia Cup 2023 campaign opener. Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first at the Multan Cricket Stadium.

The Pakistani side faced an early setback, with their opening batters falling cheaply. Fakhar Zaman contributed 14 runs and offered an easy catch to the wicketkeeper, while Imam-ul-Haq could score only five and was run out, courtesy of Rohit Paudel's brilliant fielding.

However, the match took a turn as Babar Azam took charge, partnering with Mohammad Rizwan before the latter was run out. The game's standout moment arrived with Babar Azam's remarkable century – a testament to his skill in ODIs.

Babar's entry at number three was pivotal, recovering Pakistan from their shaky start and steering the innings towards a daunting total. At 25 for two, his partnership with Rizwan marked the turning point. Later, Iftikhar Ahmed joined Babar, and together, they had an impressive partnership of 214 runs for the fifth wicket, scoring runs at will. Hard hitter Iftikhar also scored his maiden ODI hundred and helped Pakistan reach 342/5 in their 50 overs.

Babar Azam's 19th century and Iftikhar Ahmed's maiden ODI century was the highlight of the match, setting off a flurry of reactions on Twitter as fans celebrated their brilliant achievements. 

Babar’s classy knock of 151 included fourteen fours and four sixes, while Iftikhar's brutal hundred included eleven fours and four maximums. Babar's innings showcased the captain's resilience and capability to lead his team out of challenging situations, while Iftikhar showcased brute force towards the end of the innings.

Now, Nepal will have to score 343 if they want to win this match, which will be extremely difficult against a fiery bowling lineup of Pakistan. Fans will be eager to see if they put up a fighting spirit or if Pakistan will wrap them up quickly to start their Asia Cup campaign on a positive note.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

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Asia Cup 2023NepalPakistanBabar Azam