Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed scored ruthless centuries as Pakistan thrashed Nepal by 238 runs in the opening game of the Asia Cup in Multan.
Skipper Azam scored a 131-ball 151 runs for his 19th ODI hundred while Ahmed produced an unbeaten 109 runs in 71 balls for his first as Pakistan put together 342/6 in 50 overs.
The Asia Cup hosts then bundled out Nepal for a mere 104 in 23.4 overs with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking 4/27 while pace duo of Haris Rauf took 2/16 and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2/27.
For Nepal, debutants in the Asia Cup, Sompal Kami (28), Aarif Sheikh (26) and Gulsan Jha (13) made it to double figures.
The win is an ideal start for Pakistan, who climbed to ODI World No 1 ranking last week, an ideal start and perfect tune up for the marquee clash against arch-rivals India in Pallekele on Saturday.
The 238 run win is Pakistan’s third biggest win by runs in their ODI history.