The much-awaited Asia Cup 2023 got underway on Wednesday (August 30) with the clash between Pakistan and Nepal at Multan Cricket Stadium.
Opting to bat first, the hosts got off to a terrible start as they lost their openers, Fakhar Zaman (14) and Imam-ul-Haq (5), with just 25 runs on the board.
Batting at No. 3, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam steadied the ship by adding 86 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Rizwan. While Rizwan fell for 44, Babar held the one end firmly and reached his half-century off 72 balls.
After completing his fifty, Babar shifted gears to propel Pakistan towards a massive total. He notched up his 19th ODI hundred off 109 balls in the 42nd over.
The Pakistan captain started dealing in boundaries after the three-figure mark. He also found an ideal partner in Iftikhar Ahmed, who took the Nepal attack to the cleaners with a breathtaking knock of 109 not out in 71 balls (11 fours and 4 sixes).
Babar Azam got out in the final over but not before he smashed 151 off 131 balls with 14 fours and 4 sixes, helping the Men in Green rack up a mammoth 342/6 in 50 overs.
For his sensational knock, Babar Azam received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on social media platform X.
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