mobile app bar

WATCH : Pakistan vs World XI T20 highlights

Aalyan Ali
Published

Emphatic Pakistan defeat World XI by 33 runs to win the deciding 3rd T20 International of the Independence Cup of 2017.

The series was levelled 1-1 after the first two T20 Internationals at the Gaddafi Stadium, which hosted proper international cricket after eight years, barring the sole tour of Zimbabwe back in 2015.

In the deciding 3rd T20 International, Faf du Plessis won the toss and elected to bowl first on a fantastic batting pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

ALSO READ : Virender Sehwag lashes out BCCI and Ravi Shastri 

However, Pakistan got off to a fantastic start thanks to Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad, but the former slowed down and was unluckily run-out.

But Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam got together and formed a good partnership for the 3rd time in the series.

Shehzad and Babar slowed down during the middle overs thanks to disciplined bowling by the World XI bowlers.

View on Website

However, Shehzad cut loose and smashed three consecutive sixes off Ben Cutting, as he went on to smash 89 off 55 deliveries. Unluckily, he was foolishly run-out off a wide just when he was looking good.

On the other hand, Babar Azam managed 48 from 31, before he was caught off Perera in the final over. Malik smashed an unbeaten 7-ball 17, as he helped Pakistan to a 183-run total from their 20 overs.

World XI began the chase in good fashion, with Tamim scoring 3 boundaries in the opening overs. However, he was undone by a ball that stood low off Usman Khan, as Hashim Amla continued the blazing start.

Ben Cutting was promoted, but he failed, as he chopped one onto his stumps off Hassan Ali.

Hashim Amla, who made a 12-ball 21, was run-out after a terrible mix-up on the very next ball, as the World XI moved into rebuilding mode. Faf du Plessis and George Bailey struggled to time the ball, before the latter was knocked over by Imad Wasim.

Skipper du Plessis scored a run-a-ball 13, before he was also run-out thanks to brilliant fielding by Shadab Khan. David Miller was joined by Thisara Perera, with the latter smashing 22 runs off 4 deliveries by Shadab Khan.

Perera scored 32 off 13 but he was well caught off Rumman Raees to deliver the visitors another blow.

David Miller, on the other hand, also managed 32 off 29, before he was caught at midwicket off Hassan Ali. Darren Sammy scored an unbeaten 24 off 23, as Rumman Raees and Hassan Ali closed out the innings, with a 33-run victory to Pakistan.

Ahmed Shehzad was awarded the Player of the Match award for his fantastic innings of 89 from just 55 balls, which laid the platform for a big finish by Pakistan.

On the other hand, Babar Azam was awarded the Player of the Series award for his 179-run tally throughout the Independence Cup, as his runs helped Pakistan win the 3-match series 2-1.

In the end, it was a very successful tour for Pakistan and its people, with all three T20 Internationals being conducted without any hassle.

About the author

Share this article