The men’s Asia Cup returned to Pakistan after 15 long years as the hosts played Nepal in the tournament opener of the 16th edition. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat, with Nepal playing their first match ever in the tournament.

However, Pakistan got off to a shaky start when they lost both openers within 25 runs. Imam-ul-Haq was run out for five, while Fakhar Zaman was caught behind for 14.

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then stitched together an 86-run partnership for the third wicket, stabilising the innings, before Babar was joined at the crease by the explosive Iftikhar Ahmed.

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The former reached his 19th ODI century and became the fastest batter to do so, while the latter first took his time to get his eye in and then accelerated, scoring 56 runs off his last 26 balls as Pakistan added 114 in their last eight overs. Iftikhar reached his maiden international century in the process, one that could help Pakistan find answers to their middle-order questions.

Chasing a stiff target of 343, Nepal were rocked early. They lost their top three within the first two overs as Shaheen Afridi continued his new-ball wicket-taking tradition, picking two wickets in the very first over of the innings.

Aarif Sheikh and Sompal Kami showed some fight, adding 69 runs for the fourth wicket, but weren’t able to hold their nerves for long. Once the fourth wicket fell at the score of 73, the floodgates opened.

Shadab Khan ran through the lower order, picking four wickets for 27 runs as Nepal were all out for 104, handing Pakistan the second-biggest victory in Asia Cup history.

Watch highlights of the first match of the Asia Cup between Pakistan and Nepal: