No surprises today despite Nepal's promising start with the ball. Babar and Iftikhar took the game firmly in the hosts' grasp. Pakistan's bowling was clinical and it gives them a solid net run rate. Join us tomorrow for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in Pallekelle. Goodbye for now from me, Ekanth, my report-writing co-commentator, Hemant Brar, and our scorers, Thilak Rama and K Vairavan.
Babar Azam, Pakistan captain and POTM: (On the phases of his innings) When I went in, I played myself in for a couple of balls. Ball wasn't coming on, pitch was two-paced. Rizwan and I built a partnership and see what happened. Then, there were different phases. Sometimes, Rizwan gave me confidence and vice-versa. When Iftikhar came, we played different cricket. He can struggle a bit before he gets set. I asked him to play his natural game. After two-three fours, he was comfortable. He smacked it after 40 overs. (On bowling performance) I'm satisfied. A couple of overs we were not up to the mark. Pacers started well, spinners struck too. This game was good preparation for the India game because it gave us confidence. We want to give 100% every match, hope to do that there as well.
Mustafa Moudi : "Even before the India-Pakistan encounter, Babar's side have already defeated Rohit's Team tonight!!"
Arish: "5 wickets from the pacers, 5 wickets from the spinners"
Rohit Paudel, Nepal Captain: We started well. We restricted them to under 240 with the ball but let ourselves down with the bat. Wicket-taking balls weren't there in the middle overs, credit goes to Babar and their team as well. Learning from the game is we need to improve in the death overs, and we need to do well with the ball.
8:54pm: A 238-run win for Pakistan to start the tournament. Fireworks go off over the ground. Crowd are happy. A clinical performance with the ball from the hosts. Shaheen and Naseem sliced through the top order early. The conditions were tough on the body for the bowlers. But they persevered. Haris was destructive with his pace. Shadab ended up with a four-for. Fakhar's catch to dismiss Gulsan was a highlight. In the end, the hosts picked up two points and will take a healthy net run rate.
LN Rajbanshi lbw b Shadab Khan 0 (2m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Slip, leg slip in
Kushal Malla c Iftikhar Ahmed b Shadab Khan 6 (13m 4b 0x4 1x6) SR: 150.00
END OF OVER:23 | 11 Runs | NEP: 103/8 (240 runs required from 27 overs, RR: 4.47, RRR: 8.88)
- Kushal Malla6 (3b)
- Karan KC6 (5b)
- Mohammad Nawaz2-0-13-1
- Shadab Khan6-0-26-2
Mudassar : "Who is Marshalling the team in Babars Absence?" Rizwan
END OF OVER:22 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | NEP: 92/8 (251 runs required from 28 overs, RR: 4.18, RRR: 8.96)
- Karan KC1 (1b)
- Kushal Malla0 (1b)
- Shadab Khan6-0-26-2
- Mohammad Nawaz1-0-2-1
Thanks, Hemant
Ekanth coming to finish things up
S Lamichhane b Shadab Khan 0 (1m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Sandeep Lamichhane
Mohammad Sowkat: "What is the physical condition of Shaheen Shah Afridi?? " --- Shaheen was back on the field. Babar is still in the dressing room, I think
Gulsan Jha c Fakhar Zaman b Shadab Khan 13 (32m 23b 0x4 1x6) SR: 56.52
Over the wicket
A leg slip in place
Around the wicket
END OF OVER:21 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | NEP: 90/6 (253 runs required from 29 overs, RR: 4.28, RRR: 8.72)
- Kushal Malla0 (1b)
- Gulsan Jha13 (20b)
- Mohammad Nawaz1-0-2-1
- Shadab Khan5-0-24-0
Kushal Malla is the new batter. Over the wicket to the left-hander
DS Airee b Mohammad Nawaz 3 (17m 11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 27.27
Over the wicket to a left-hander