Perera shocks Pakistan for series-levelling victory
World XI batsman Hashim Amla (R) plays a shot as Pakistani captain and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad looks on during the second Twenty20 International match between the World XI and Pakistan at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on September 13, 2017. PHOTO: AFP
Chasing 175 to level the series, World XI were in all sort of trouble and needed 51 off the final four overs.
Pakistan beat World XI in Independence Cup opener
However, the Sri Lankan all-rounder scored breathtaking 47 off just 19 with the help of five maximums to seal seven-wicket victory for the visitors.
Opener Hashim Amla played the most important innings for Faf du Plessis’ men, as he remained unbeaten on 72 off 55 with the help of five fours and one six.
For Pakistan, spinners Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim and pacer Sohail Khan claimed one wicket each.
Cricket triumphs as Pakistan vanquish the World
Earlier, veteran Shoaib Malik’s quick-fire 39 off 23 with the help of one four and three sixes helped Pakistan to post a competitive total of 174 for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs after Sarfraz won the toss and opted to bat first.
For World XI, leg-spinner Samuel Badree claimed two and all-rounder Perera claimed two wickets each.
The final game of the series will be played on Friday at the same venue.
So that's it everyone. What a game of cricket and we are all set for a thrilling finale on Friday, where we will join you once again. Till then, it's all over from Azeem Siddiqui and Abdul Majid Awan. Ciao.
WXI 175-3 (19.5 overs)
Rumman Raees to bowl final over.
WXI 162-3 (19 overs)
Twenty runs off the over. WXI need 13 off the final over.
Sohail Khan to bowl his final over.
WXI 142-3 (18 overs)
Just eight off the over. Brilliant bowling from the left-armer.
Rumman Raees to bowl his new over.
WXI 134-3 (17 overs)
Ten off the over.
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
WXI 124-3 (16 overs)
Twelve off the over. Good one for World XI.
Rumman Raees to start his new over.
WXI 112-3 (15 overs)
Just six off the over. Brilliant bowling.
Shadab Khan to bowl his final over.
WXI 106-3 (14 overs)
Ten runs and a wicket off the over.
Nawaz to continue.
WXI 96-2 (13 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
Shadab Khan to start his new over.
WXI 86-2 (12 overs)
Mohammad Nawaz to bowl his new over.
WXI 78-2 (11 overs)
Six off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Shadab Khan to start his second over.
WXI 72-2 (10 overs)
Just two runs and a wicket. Brilliant bowling.
Imad to bowl his final over.
WXI 70-1 (9 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
Shadab Khan to start his first over.
WXI 60-1 (8 overs)
Just four off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Imad Wasim to start his third over.
WXI 56-1 (7 overs)
Seven off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Mohammad Nawaz to start his first over.
WXI 49-1 (6 overs)
Five runs and a wicket off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
WXI 44-0 (5 overs)
Just three off it. Brilliant one for Pakistan.
Rumman Raees to start his first over.
WXI 41-0 (4 overs)
Eleven off the over. Good one for World XI.
Usman Khan Shinwari to start his first over of the day.
WXI 30-0 (3 overs)
Fourteen off the over. World XI on fire.
SIX! Tamim hits one out of the park. Brilliant batting.
Imad Wasim to start his second over.
WXI 14-0 (2 overs)
FOUR! Hashim Amla strikes first four of the innings.
Sohail Khan to start his first over.
WXI 5-0 (1 over)
Just five off the over. Good start for Pakistan.
So it's Hashim Amla and Tamim Iqbal to open for World XI, whereas it is left-arm Imad Wasim to to start for Pakistan.
So that's it everyone. We will join you for the second innings in about 15 minutes.
PAK 174-6 (20 overs)
Seventeen runs and a wicket off the over. Great finish for Pakistan.
Ben Cutting to bowl final over of the innings.
PAK 157-5 (19 overs)
Just six runs and two wickets off the over. Brilliant over for World XI.
Thisara Perera to start his final over.
PAK 151-3 (18 overs)
Thirteen off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Morne Morkel to start his final over.
PAK 138-3 (17 overs)
Just four runs and a wicket off the over. Good one for World XI.
Badree to bowl his final over.
PAK 134-2 (16 overs)
Nineteen off the over, the best one of the innings so far for Pakistan.
Imran Tahir to start his third over.
PAK 121-2 (15 overs)
Six off the over. Good one for World XI.
Samuel Badree to start his new over.
PAK 115-2 (14 overs)
Nine off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Cutting to continue.
PAK 106-2 (13 overs)
Seven runs and a wicket off the over.
Imran Tahir to continue.
PAK 99-1 (12 overs)
Twelve off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Ben Cutting to start his new over.
PAK 87-1 (11 overs)
Nine off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Imran Tahir to start his first over.
PAK 78-1 (10 overs)
Nine off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.
Perera to start his new over.
PAK 69-1 (9 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Collingwood to continue.
PAK 55-1 (8 overs)
Eight off the over.
Thisara Perera to start his first over.
PAK 47-1 (7 overs)
Just four off the over. Good one for World XI.
Paul Collingwood to start his first over.
PAK 43-1 (6 overs)
Just one off the over. Great one for World XI.
Morkel to start his third over.
PAK 42-1 (5 overs)
Seven runs and a wicket off the over. Good one for World XI.
Badree to continue.
PAK 35-0 (4 overs)
Just five off the over. Good one for World XI.
Morkel to start his new over.
PAK 30-0 (3 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Another good one for Pakistan.
Samuel Badree to start his first over.
PAK 16-0 (2 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
Australian Ben Cutting to start his first over of the day.
PAK 2-0 (1 over)
Just two off the over. Good start for the World XI.
So it's Ahmad Shahzad and Fakhar Zaman to open for Pakistan, whereas South Africa's Morne Morkel to start for World XI.
Toss
Faf du Plessis calls tails and Sarfraz Ahmed wins the toss.
Sarfraz: We've added a spinner, Muhammad Nawaz plays too. Hasan Ali (with a stiff back) is replaced by Usman Shinwari.
Du Plessis: 180 would be par, if we could restrict them. It is not about winning only here in this tournament, it is about something more important.