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)
SIXXXXXX! @PereraThisara delivers the knockout blow to Pakistan. WXI win by 7 wickets. Series level 1-1https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/kmKd4SJmuV
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
NAIL-BITER: World XI needs 13 off 6 balls to level the three-match series 1-1- against Pakistanhttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/P23TkDf6ZJ
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Rumman Raees to bowl final over.
WXI 162-3 (19 overs)
Twenty runs off the over. WXI need 13 off the final over.
SIX! @PereraThisara punishes Pakistan after the drop catch. WXI need 14 off 7https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
DROPPED! @realshoaibmalik puts one down at long-off, that too the danger man @PereraThisara https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
WIDE and DOUBLE! 22 off 9 needed by World XI nowhttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
SIX! @PereraThisara blasts Sohail Khan over long on. WXI need 25 off 10https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Sohail Khan to bowl his final over.
WXI 142-3 (18 overs)
Just eight off the over. Brilliant bowling from the left-armer.
SIX! @PereraThisara goes over long-on off @rummanraees15. WXI need 33 off 14https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Rumman Raees to bowl his new over.
WXI 134-3 (17 overs)
Ten off the over.
SIX! Sohail Khan sent over long leg by @PereraThisara. WXI 132-3 (16.4)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Sohail Khan to start his new over.
WXI 124-3 (16 overs)
Twelve off the over. Good one for World XI.
FOURx2! @amlahash on a rampage against @rummanraees15. WXI need 51 off 24https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
SIX and OUT! World XI captain @faf1307 gone for 20. WXI 106-3 (14), need 69 off 36https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FIFTY up for @amlahash off 37 balls. Great knock by the South Africanhttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/aKwHlz1qMf
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Nawaz to continue.
WXI 96-2 (13 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
SIX! @faf1307 goes downtown off @76Shadabkhan. WXI 96-2 (13)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Shadab Khan to start his new over.
WXI 86-2 (12 overs)
SIX! Wristy shot from @amlahash over @mnawaz94's head. WXI 86-2 (12)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
OUT! @simadwasim gets a big one as Tim Paine departs after scoring 10 https://t.co/gjWPwMZZEr #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/upwmfoLsAL
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Imad to bowl his final over.
WXI 70-1 (9 overs)
Ten off the over. Good one for World XI.
SIX! @amlahash hits one out of the park over square leg https://t.co/gjWPwMZZEr #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/E8EVE4EFJE
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
FOUR! Cheeky from Tim Paine as he registers his first boundary of the innings https://t.co/gjWPwMZZEr #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Mohammad Nawaz to start his first over.
WXI 49-1 (6 overs)
Five runs and a wicket off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
OUT! @realshoaibmalik takes a diving catch at short fine leg. @TamimOfficial28 departs. WXI 47-1 (5.3)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
FOUR! @amlahash hits one down the ground for another boundary https://t.co/gjWPwMZZEr #CricektKiHalalala #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FOUR! @amlahash hits one beautifully through cover for a boundary https://t.co/gjWPwMZZEr #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Usman Khan Shinwari to start his first over of the day.
WXI 30-0 (3 overs)
Fourteen off the over. World XI on fire.
https://twitter.com/ETribuneSports/status/907999059864162304
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.
OUT! @realshoaibmalik (39) caught by a brilliantly forward-diving 41-year-old @Colly622https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/rqYl1EzUTB
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
SIX! @realshoaibmalik clears midwicket this time. PAK 174-5 (19.5)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
DROPPED! Miller put a sitter down. @realshoaibmalik survives but has run to the non-striker endhttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
SIX! @realshoaibmalik pulls with all the power he has in the draining weather. PAK 163-5 (19.1)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
DUCK! @SarfarazA_54 tries to beat short third-man but Imran Tahir is there, AGAIN. PAK 157-5 (19)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
OUT! @simadwasim tries a scoop over short fine leg but Imran Tahir is presented with a comfortable catchhttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Thisara Perera to start his final over.
PAK 151-3 (18 overs)
Thirteen off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOURx2! @simadwasim giving Pakistan the much-needed boost. PAK 149-3 (17.4)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
OUT! 16.2 Badree to Babar Azam
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/FBV0kbYHCf
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.
FOUR! @realshoaibmalik nudges a wide-ish delivery past short fine leg off Imran Tahir. PAK 132-2https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
SIX! Malik goes over midwicket off Imran Tahir. PAK 128-2https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
FOUR! @babarazam258 swings to guide the ball towards square leg. PAK 112-2https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Cutting to continue.
PAK 106-2 (13 overs)
Seven runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! @iamAhmadshahzad (43) caught by @DavidMillerSA12 off Imran Tahir. PAK 100-2 (12.2)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Imran Tahir to continue.
PAK 99-1 (12 overs)
Twelve off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
First SIX of the match! @iamAhmadshahzad smacks it straight as an arrow. PAK 99-1 (12)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/w8Y0jHR0gJ
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Ben Cutting to start his new over.
PAK 87-1 (11 overs)
Nine off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOUR! Daft touch by @babarazam258 past the keeper takes the ball towards fine leg. PAK 85-1https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
FOUR to end the over! @iamAhmadshahzad cuts towards square on off. PAK 69-1 (9)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/itaMNGqGK0
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FOUR! Struck over @Colly622's head by @iamAhmadshahzad. PAK 63-1https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Collingwood to continue.
PAK 55-1 (8 overs)
Eight off the over.
FOUR! @babarazam258 get a boundary off an edge. PAK 55-1 (8)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
LBW! @FakharZamanLive (21 off 13) tries a slog sweep but fails to connect off Badree. PAK 41-1 (4.5)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/iztVljHQX3
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FOUR! Shehzad charges forward and slams it past Badreehttps://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
FOURx2! Shehzad targeting the off-side against leggie Badree. PAK 30-0 (3 overs)https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/g2CoAGXWJJ
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FOUR! Fakhar drives Badree towards square leg. Can he score a fifty today?https://t.co/UOUyVvmYGe #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
Samuel Badree to start his first over.
PAK 16-0 (2 overs)
Fourteen off the over. Good one for Pakistan.
FOURx2! @FakharZamanLive hits consecutive boundaries https://t.co/GHgJpj8v3y #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
FOUR! @FakharZamanLive comes down the track and hits first boundary of the night https://t.co/GHgJpj8v3y #CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/ctvGKWg2FN
— Tribune Sports (@ETribuneSports) September 13, 2017
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.
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