‘Chachu ne Nepal bowlers ke saath khilwaad kar diya’ – Fans react as Iftikhar Ahmed registers maiden ODI ton against Nepal in 1st Asia Cup 2023 match
Babar Azam cracked 151 off 131 balls with fourteen fours and four sixes
SHARE
Aug 30, 2023 9:08 pm
Iftikhar Ahmed (Source: Twitter)
The first match of the Asia Cup took place at Multan. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat. The Men in Green did not get off to the best of starts as Fakhar Zaman was caught by Aasif Shiekh off Karan KC for 14 off 20 balls with three fours. Imam-ul Haq was the next to fall as he was run out in horrible fashion. Pakistan were staring down the barrel at 25-2. Babar Azam came in at number three and steadied the ship for Pakistan. He recived good support from Mohammad Rizwan.
The keeper batter made 44 off 50 balls with six fours. He was run-out by Dipendra Singh. Shortly after, Agha Salman fell to Sandeep Lamichhane for 5 off 14 balls. While Babar was going all guns blazing at one end, he got a wonderful partner in the form of Iftikhar Ahmed. The right-hander came in at number six and carted the Nepal bowlers all over the park. He scored an unbeaten 109 off 71 balls with 11 fours and four sixes. Whatever Nepal threw at him, the 32-year-old had an answer to.
Iftikhar Ahmed hit 11 fours and four sixes in his knock against Nepal
It was his maiden ODI ton that came at the right time for Pakistan when the chips were down. It was batting of the highest order from him. Babar was in sublime form as he got to 151 off 131 balls with fourteen fours and four sixes. The Pakistan captain thwarted the plans of the Nepal bowlers and sunk them into submission. Thanks to the duo, Pakistan ended up on with a huge total of 342-6 in their 50 overs.
The Nepal bowlers had the plans set and bowled with diligence in the initial overs, but when the Pakistan batters got their eye in on a good batting track it was only one way traffic for the bowlers. Nepal had their moments in the game but could not take a hold on the match for a longer duration. They were also guilty of dropping a catch early on in the innings.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
This is it. First ODI hundred for Iftikhar Ahmed and in just 67 balls. 💯
Class apart from Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed. After two quick wickets, there was some sort of pressure but they handled well and accelerated at the right time.
India versus Pakistan on Sept 2 will be fun. Bring it on, boys!
Iftikhar Ahmed's 109* is the first ODI century for Pakistan since April 2019 outside of their top three of Fakhar, Imam & Babar, who hit 22 hundreds between them in the period. (Last one was by Haris Sohail against Australia in March 2019)#PAKvNEP
Iftikhar Ahmed is a completely different batter when he has considerable overs to bat in ODIs. Came in 28th over today and scored a 67-ball 100 (joint-fifth fastest for Pakistan). Came in 19th over against NZ and scored 94 not out off 72 balls. Genuine middle-order batter.
