ABU DHABI (Web Desk) – Fifties from Azhar Ali and Shoaib Malik set up the Pakistanis’ 121-run rout of Nepal in their tour game in Abu Dhabi.
After being put in to bat, Azhar shared a 55-run opening partnership with Ahmed Shehzad and followed it up with a 103-run second-wicket stand with Mohammad Hafeez before he retired with the score at 158 for 2 in 28 overs.
Hafeez was dismissed two balls later for 49 off 55 balls. Malik struck a quickfire fifty – an innings that included five fours and two sixes – and combined with Younis Khan for a 72-run stand. Babar Azam provided the required impetus with a 29-ball 43, including four fours and two sixes, helping the Pakistanis cross the 300-mark in the process, crick info cited.
Nepal were never really in the contest in the chase. Their innings got off to a slow start as openers Anil Mandal and Subash Khakurel added 49 before Yasir broke the stand by having Khakurel caught in the 14th over.
Mandal then shared a 79-run partnership with Sagar Pun for the second wicket before Anwar Ali trapped Mandal lbw for 61. Ahmed Shehzad and Wahab Riaz picked up a wicket each to reduce Nepal to 155 for 4 in the 41st over.
Gyanendra Malla offered some resistance towards the end with a 52-ball 41 before he was dismissed off the penultimate delivery of the innings as Nepal finished with 205 for 5. Anwar Ali picked up two wickets but conceded 56 in his 10 overs.
