Asia Cup 2023 started with a Group A dominant victory from Pakistan against the Asia Cup debutant Nepal at Multan. It was one of the record-breaking matches in the ODI Asia Cup history.
In the tournament opener (August 30), the hosts Pakistan chose to bat first after winning the toss. Though Pakistan lost both their openers cheaply, captain Babar Azam and middle-order batter Iftikhar Ahmed slammed centuries. While Babar scored 151 runs in 131 balls (14 fours and four sixes), fiery Iftikhar scored 109 runs in 71 balls (11 fours and four sixes).
Also, Mohammad Rizwan scored 44 runs off 50 balls with the help of six fours. Those batting performances helped the hosts to score 342/6 in 50 overs.
In reply, Nepal were bundled out for only 104 runs in 23.4 overs. Only Aarif Sheikh (26), Sompal Kami (28) and Gulsan Jha (13) managed double-digit scores in that chasing.
Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan claimed a four-wicket haul as he finished with bowling figures of 6.4-0-27-4.
Here are some crucial stats of the match.
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam scored the highest runs as a captain
Babar recorded the highest score in the ODI Asia Cup history as a captain. The previous record was 136 runs by the Indian skipper Virat Kohli against Bangladesh at Fatullah on February 26, 2014.
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam managed the second-highest score
Babar became the second batter to score 150+ runs in ODI Asia Cup history. Indian cricketer Virat Kohli was the first cricketer to record it when he scored 183 runs against Pakistan at Mirpur during the Asia Cup 2012 (March 18, 2012).
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Iftikhar Ahmed recorded fourth fastest century
With his 67-ball hundred, Iftikhar recorded the joint fifth-fastest ODI century for Pakistan. Meanwhile, it was also the fourth fastest hundred in the ODI Asia Cup history.
Fastest ODI centuries for Pakistan
Player | Balls to 100 runs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Shahid Afridi | 37 | Sri Lanka | Nairobi | October 4, 1996 |
Shahid Afridi | 45 | India | Kanpur | April 15, 2005 |
Shahid Afridi | 53 | Bangladesh | Dambulla | June 21, 2010 |
Sharjeel Khan | 61 | Ireland | Dublin (Malahide) | August 18, 2016 |
Basit Ali | 67 | West Indies | Sharjah | November 5, 1993 |
Iftikhar Ahmed | 67 | Nepal | Multan | August 30, 2023 |
Fastest ODI centuries in ODI Asia Cup
Player (Team) | Balls to 100 runs | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 53 | Bangladesh | Dambulla | June 21, 2010 |
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) | 55 | Bangladesh | Karachi | June 30, 2008 |
Suresh Raina (India) | 66 | Hong Kong | Karachi | June 25, 2008 |
Iftikhar Ahmed (Pakistan) | 67 | Nepal | Multan | August 30, 2023 |
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 68 | Sri Lanka | Dambulla | June 15, 2010 |
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan recorded eighth twin hundreds
Babar and Iftikhar scored twin centuries in the game. It was the eighth innings with two centuries in the ODI Asia Cup history. Meanwhile, it was the fourth time in ODI Asia Cup history Pakistan innings managed two centuries.
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed set up the 3rd highest partnership
Babar and Iftikhar’s 214-run partnership was the highest fifth-wicket ODI partnership for Pakistan. The previous record was 176 runs between Younis Khan and Umar Akmal against Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) on August 7, 2009.
Babar and Iftikhar’s 214-run partnership for the fifth wicket was the third-highest partnership for any wicket in the ODI Asia Cup history.
Highest ODI Asia Cup partnerships for any wicket
Partners (Team) | Partnership runs | Partnership wicket | Opposition | Venue | Date |
Nasir Jamshed & Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan) | 224 | 1st | India | Mirpur | March 18, 2012 |
Younis Khan & Shoaib Malik (Pakistan) | 223 | 3rd | Hong Kong | Colombo (SSC) | July 18, 2004 |
Iftikhar Ahmed & Babar Azam (Pakistan) | 214 | 5th | Nepal | Multan | August 30, 2023 |
Ajinkya Rahane & Virat Kohli (India) | 213 | 3rd | Bangladesh | Fatullah | February 26, 2014 |
Rohit Sharma & Shikhar Dhawan (India) | 210 | 1st | Pakistan | Dubai (DSC) | September 23, 2018 |
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan recorded fifth highest total
Pakistan’s 342/6 (50 overs) was the fifth-highest ODI Asia Cup total. Meanwhile, it was Pakistan’s third-highest total in the tournament history.
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Nepal registered fifth lowest total
Nepal’s 104 all out was the fifth-lowest completed total in the ODI Asia Cup history.
Asia Cup (ODI) record: Pakistan managed 2nd largest winning margin
Pakistan won the match by 238 runs. It was the second-largest victory (by runs) in the ODI Asia Cup history. The record is India won by 256 runs vs Hong Kong at Karachi on 25 June 2008.
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