OPENING DELIGHT
Pakistan beat the World XI by 20 runs in an exciting finish to the first Twenty20 match in Lahore on Tuesday, celebrating the return of international cricket to the country amid tight security.
It is only the second time Pakistan has hosted an international match since a 2009 terror attack on the Sri Lankan team bus, also in Lahore.
The World XI finished with 177 with Darren Sammy and skipper Faf du Plessis scoring 29 each. For Pakistan Sohail Khan, Shadab Khan and Rumman Raees took two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan, sent into bat by the World XI, hit 197-5.
Put in to bat by ICC World XI captain Faf du Plessis, Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost Fakhar Zaman (8) in the very first over. The opener hit boundaries off the first two deliveries but departed couple of balls later when he edged a seaming delivery off Morne Morkel.
Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam then combined well to put together a solid partnership of 122-runs for the second wicket which set Pakistan for a big score.
Azam played aggressive cricket and received good support at the other end from Ahmed Shehzad, who eventually got out for 39 off 34 balls, which included three boundaries. Shehzad’s departure saw Azam also following him to the pavilion quickly after a fiery 52-ball 86 studded with 10 boundaries and two sixes.
Thereafter former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik gave the momentum to the innings with a 20-ball 38, which was studded with four boundaries and two sixes.
The last three overs proved quite expensive for the World XI as Pakistan blasted 48 runs with the last six deliveries yielding 21 runs. Imad Wasim used the long handle to good effect as his 15 not out off four balls included two maximums off the last three balls.
Thisara Perera was the most successful of the bowlers for World XI as he was the only one to pick up two wickets as three others accounted for one each.
At the toss, World XI skipper Faf du Plessis, who sent Pakistan into bat, hailed the return of cricket to the South Asian nation.
“It’s not about ourselves, great to see we can play a small part in bringing cricket back to Pakistan. There are no egos involved,” said du Plessis. The second and third matches are also in Lahore on Wednesday and Thursday. —
Wonderful to see cricket played again in Pakistan a country that shares a real passion for the game! #PAKvWI Tom Moody @TomMoodyCricket
INSPIRATION was the Most missing part since 2009 in Pakistan cricket,these PAK vs world 11 matches wil help to inspire new generation 4 sure Mohammad Hafeez @MHafeez22
Lahore is buzzing .. full house here at Gaddafi stadium..short fence .. straight pitch .. boundaries galore.. Ramiz Raja @iramizraja 2h2 hours ago
Welcoming all the international players, Thankyou for coming!really excited to see you guys playing in my homeland .# PakV sW XI will be a hit! Shoaib Akhtar @shoaib100mph