Pakistan beats World XI by 33-run in their decisive Twenty20 international on Friday to clinch the three-match series 2-1. Pakistan’s total of 183-4 was marked by a century partnership between Ahmed Shehzad (89) and Babar Azam (48). Pakistan also impressed with their fielding. The World XI crumbled against Pakistan’s superb ground fielding with three batsmen getting run outs before it was restricted at 150-8. Fast bowler Hasan Ali took 2-28. The World XI lost wickets with regular intervals. Hashim Amla (21) and Du Plessis (13) were both run out.
Earlier, Shehzad and Azam added 102 runs off 57 balls for the second-wicket stand after Fakhar Zaman (27) provided Pakistan a brisk start of 61 in front of a big crowd at the 25,000 capacity Gaddafi Stadium. Shehzad, who hit eight fours in his 55-ball knock, upped the scoring rate in the last three overs when he smashed three successive sixes off Australian seamer Ben Cutting in the 18th over. However, Shehzad missed out on his second T20 international century when he tried to steal a needless run in the same over and was run out. Azam, dropped on 22 by South African Imran Tahir at fine leg, also missed his second half century of the series when he holed out after scoring 48 off 31 balls with five boundaries. Shoaib Malik (17) provided an ideal finish to the innings with two sixes as Pakistan scored 107 runs in the last 10 overs.
The World XI stumbled in its reply to 5-67 by the 10th over. Tamim Iqbal (14) struck three boundaries before he was clean bowled off left-arm seamer Usman Shinwari. Ben Cutting and Amla both fell in Ali’s first over before former Australia captain George Bailey and Du Plessis also departed. Thisara Perera and David Miller both scored 32 runs each to reduce the margin of defeat. Perera, whose whirlwind 47 leveled the series on Wednesday, struck three successive sixes off leg-spinner Shadab Khan, before falling to a well-judged catch by Azam. The Pakistan Cricket Board had organized the series in collaboration with the ICC in a bid to revive international cricket at home after eight years.
