Pakistan vs World XI: Babar Azam, Sohail Khan star as PAK win 1st T20
Wednesday, September 13, 2017 IST
A brilliant innings from Babar Azam and some fine bowling performances helped Pakistan cricket team celebrate the return of international cricket to the country with a comprehensive 20-run victory over ICC World XI in the first Twenty20 match of the Independence Cup at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.
After Babar Azam powered Pakistan to 197/5 with a 52-ball 86, the ICC World XI could only manage 177/7 as the hosts won the first international cricket match held in their country in two years.
This was only the second time Pakistan hosted an international match since the 2009 terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore.
Sent in to bat by ICC World XI captain Faf du Plessis, Pakistan got off to a poor start after losing Fakhar Zaman (8) in the very first over. The opener smacked boundaries off the first two deliveries but got out couple of balls later when he edged a seaming delivery off Morne Morkel.
Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam then combined well to string together a solid partnership of 122-runs for the second wicket.
Azam played the anchor’s role but was given good support from the other end by Ahmed Shehzad, who eventually got out for 39 off 34 balls, which included three boundaries.
Babar Azam did not last long after Shehzad’s wicket and departed after a fiery knock that included 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also played well for his 20-ball 38, which was studded with four boundaries and two sixes.
The last three overs proved quite expensive for the ICC World XI as Pakistan scored 48 runs with the last six deliveries yielding 21 runs.
Imad Wasim’s 15 not out off four balls included two maximums off the last three balls.
Thisara Perera was the pick of the bowlers for World XI as he was the only one to pick two wickets as three others finished with one each.
Despite a challenging target, the visitors started well with Tamim Iqbal (18) and Hashim Amla (26) stitching a 43-run stand for the first wicket.
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