'Pure domination' - Twitter in awe as Pakistan thrash Nepal by 238 runs in Asia Cup opener

At the start of their Asia Cup 2023 campaign, Pakistan clashed with Nepal at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first.

The early moments were not in Pakistan's favour, as opening batters Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq fell quickly, but the game swiftly changed its momentum as Babar Azam showcased his masterful skills. Babar's century emerged as the game-changer, highlighting his prowess in ODIs.

His entry at number three saved Pakistan from a shaky start as his partnership with Mohammad Rizwan got Pakistan out of early trouble. This partnership laid the groundwork for an astonishing 214-run partnership with Iftikhar Ahmed for the fifth wicket.

Babar Azam's sensational knock of 151, including fourteen fours and four sixes, displayed his resilience as a batting stalwart. Complemented by Iftikhar Ahmed's quick-fire century, which included eleven fours and four maximums, Pakistan reached to a commanding total of 342/5 in their allocated 50 overs.

The partnership between Babar and Iftikhar, scoring 214 runs in just 131 balls, turned the game on its head. The significance of Babar's century stretched beyond the match itself. The milestone marked his 19th ODI century and positioned him as the quickest to achieve this feat in terms of innings, surpassing Hashim Amla.

As Nepal began their pursuit of the formidable target of 343, Pakistan's bowling unit proved to be too difficult for them to face. Shaheen Afridi's fiery swinging deliveries, supported by Shadab Khan's spin magic, left the Nepali batters struggling. Pakistan's bowlers produced a comprehensive victory, bundling out Nepal for a mere 104 runs and helping Pakistan to win the match by 238 runs. Shadab Khan emerged as the standout performer with the ball, taking four wickets.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Pakistan's dominating victory over Nepal: 

Also read: Asia Cup 2023 Live update