Pakistan beat World XI in Independence Cup opener
World XI batsman Tamim Iqbal (R) plays a shot as Pakistani captain and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad looks on during the first Twenty20 international match between the World XI and Pakistan at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on September 12, 2017. PHOTO: AFP
In a historic match, World XI captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and opted to field first, but his decision backfired as Pakistan posted a mammoth 197 for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
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The star of the show for the Men in Green was young Babar Azam, who scored 86 off just 52 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and two sixes.
He was well supported by opener Ahmad Shahzad (39 off 34), whereas veteran Shoaib Malik contributed with a quick-fire 38 off just 20 balls in the later stages of the innings.
For World XI, Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera claimed two, whereas pacer Morne Morkel, Ben Cutting and leg-spinner Imran Tahir picked one wicket each.
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In reply, World XI only managed to score 177-7, thanks to sublime bowling performance from pacer Sohail Khan and leg-spinner Shadab Khan.
Sohail finished his quota of four over with the figures of 2-28, whereas Shadab finished his four over with the figures of 2-33.
For visitors, captain Du Plessis (29), West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy (29 not out), Hashim Amla (26) and wicketkeeper batsman Tim Paine (25) made valuable contributions with the bat.
The second match of the series will be played tomorrow at the same venue.
So that's it everyone. It's all over in the first match of this historic series. We will join you again tomorrow. Till then, ciao.
WXI 177-7 (20 overs)
Thirteen and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Finally, a wicket for Hasan Ali. Thisara Perera departs after scoring 17.
SIX! Another one for Darren Sammy.
Hasan Ali to start his new over.
WXI 164-6 (19 overs)
Thirteen off the over. Good one for World XI.
SIX! Sammy hits one out of the park down the ground for a maximum.
FOUR! Important boundary for World XI.
Rumman Raees to start his final over the day.
WXI 151-6 (18 overs)
Just three off the over.
Hasan Ali to start his new over.
WXI 148-6 (17 overs)
Nine off the over and a wicket. Good one for Pakistan.
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
WXI 139-5 (16 overs)
Fifteen off the over. Great one for World XI.
Rumman Raees to start his new over.
WXI 124-5 (15 overs)
Fourteen off the over and a wicket.
FOUR! Clever from Grant Elliott.
Shadab Khan to start his new over.
WXI 110-4 (14 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Another wicket for Pakistan as Tim Paine departs.
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
WXI 107-3 (13 overs)
Seven off the over and a wicket. Good one for Pakistan.
Shadab Khan to start his new over.
WXI 100-2 (12 overs)
Twenty two off the over. Brilliant batting.
FOURx2! Du Plessis turning it on. Outstanding batting.
FOUR! Another one from Faf.
FOUR! Brilliant improvisation from World XI captain.
Hasan Ali to continue.
WXI 78-2 (11 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
Shadab Khan to continue.
WXI 68-2 (10 overs)
Eight off the over.
Imad to bowl his final over.
WXI 60-2 (9 overs)
Just two off the over. Impressive start for the leg-spinner.
Shadab Khan to start his first over.
WXI 58-2 (8 overs)
Just three off the over. Great bowling.
Imad Wasim to start his new over.
WXI 55-2 (7 overs)
Just seven off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOUR! Poor bowling and Tim Paine took full advantage of it.
Hasan Ali to continue.
WXI 48-2 (6 overs)
Nine runs and two wickets off the over. Good one Pakistan.
FOUR! Poor start by Rumman as Tamim hits another boundary.
Rumman Raees to start his first over.
WXI 39-0 (5 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
FOURx2: This time Hashim Amla showing his class. Back-to-back boundaries.
Hasan Ali to start his first over.
WXI 29-0 (4 overs)
Eleven off the over. Good one for World XI.
FOURx2: Tamim Iqbal is taking attack to Pakistan. Brilliant batting.
Sohail Khan to continue.
WXI 18-0 (3 overs)
Seven off the over.
SIX! It's World XI's first six of the innings.
Imad Wasim to continue.
WXI 11-0 (2 overs)
Seven off the over.
FOUR! Hashim Amla strikes one beautifully for the first boundary of the innings.
Sohail Khan to start his first over.
WXI 4-0 (1 over)
Just four off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
So it's Hashim Amla and Tamim Iqbal to open for World XI, whereas it's Imad Wasim to start for Pakistan.
So that's it from the first session. We will come back when World XI will come to chase this mammoth target.
PAK 197-4 (20 overs)
Twenty one runs and a wicket off the over. Brilliant one for Pakistan.
SIX! What a way to finish the innings. Brilliant stuff from the left-hander.
SIX! Another one. This time Imad Wasim. Great hit.
Perera to start his final over.
PAK 176-4 (19 overs)
Fifteen off the over. Brilliant one for Pakistan.
Ben Cutting to start his new over.
PAK 161-4 (18 overs)
Twelve runs and a wicket off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his new over.
PAK 149-3 (17 overs)
Just six off the over. Good one for World XI.
Morkel to start his final over.
PAK 143-3 (16 overs)
Ten off the over and a wicket.
Imran Tahir to start his new over.
PAK 133-2 (15 overs)
Just three runs and a wicket off the over. Great one for World XI.
Ben Cutting to start his new over.
PAK 130-1 (14 overs)
Thirteen off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Darren Sammy to continue.
PAK 117-1 (13 overs)
Eleven off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.
FOUR! Another one for Babar. He is on his way to score a century.
Morne Morkel to start his new over.
PAK 106-1 (12 overs)
Eleven off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOUR! Another one for Babar. He is on fire.
FOUR! A welcome boundary for Ahmed Shahzad.
Darren Sammy to start his first over.
PAK 95-1 (11 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Tahir to continue.
PAK 85-1 (10 overs)
Nine off the over.
Elliott to start his new over.
PAK 76-1 (9 overs)
Six off the over. Good one for World XI.
Tahir to continue.
PAK 70-1 (8 overs)
Ten off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Grant Elliott to start his first over.
PAK 60-1 (7 overs)
Eleven off the over. Great one for Pakistan.
Ben Cuttin to continue.
PAK 49-1 (6 overs)
Nine off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOUR! Brilliant from Babar as he continues his charge on the opposition.
Imran Tahir to start his first over.
PAK 40-1 (5 overs)
Just six off the over.
Ben Cutting to start his first over of the day.
PAK 34-1 (4 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Perera to continue.
PAK 24-1 (3 overs)
Just three off the over. Good one for World XI
Morkel to continue.
PAK 21-1 (2 overs)
Nine off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.
Thisara Perera to start his first over.
PAK 12-1 (1 over)
What a fantastic beginning of the Independence Cup.
Twelve run and a wicket off the over.
Ahmed Shehzad and Fakhar Zaman open the innings for Pakistan. Morne Morkel has the ball in his hand for the first over.
Faheem Ashraf receives debut cap
Weather and pitch report
Lahore has 49% humidity. As the time goes on, temperatures are going to get low. Meanwhile, the pitch is dry. Spinners will come into play. A score of 160-170 will be Pakistan's target.
Toss
Faf calls heads and it has landed just like he wanted. World XI will bowl first against Pakistan.
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