Update - Perera wins it with a SIX straight down the ground! World XI win by 7 wickets and with a ball to spare! Series level 1-1 Report, 1st T20: A brisk half-century by Babar Azam helped Pakistan to a 20-run victory over a World XI on Tuesday, the first match of a Twenty20 series which the hosts hope will lead to international cricket returning to their country. Azam entertained the near-capacity crowd of 25,000 at the Gaddafi Stadium by smashing 86 off 52 balls, hitting 10 fours and two sixes in Pakistan’s total of 197-5. The World XI’s star-studded batting lineup was then restricted to 177-7 as Pakistan took the lead in a three-match series. [caption id="" align=“alignleft” width=“380”] World XI captain Faf du Plessis and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed. Image courtesy: Twitter @ICC[/caption] “I want to dedicate this innings to the people of Pakistan because it’s always nice to play in front of home fans,” Azam said of his man-of-the-match winning knock. Eight years after a terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore caused major teams to shun Pakistan, the country’s cricket board is hoping the series will help to win back the confidence of test-playing nations. The second game will be played on Wednesday, followed by the last match on Friday. “It was a good game, I thought Pakistan played exceptionally well,” World XI captain South Africa’s Faf du Plessis said. “I thought it was a 180 wicket, so maybe we gave away 20 runs too many. Our bowling was possibly one-dimensional - they had a lot of variety, spinners, left-arm, right-arm. “It was a great occasion to play here, and as soon as we walked into the field, it was just a normal game.” Morne Morkel, one of five South African players in the World XI, made an early breakthrough when Fakhar Zaman (8) was caught in the lone slip in the first over after Du Plessis won the toss and opted to field. But Azam, playing his only second international match at home, then blunted the World XI’s attack with a 122-run partnership off 81 balls with Ahmed Shehzad (39). With sharper fielding, though, both batsmen could have been removed earlier. Ben Cutting couldn’t hold onto a low one-handed catch off his own bowling which could have dismissed Shehzad on 7. Azam survived on 64 when David Miller misjudged an overhead catch at long-off in Morkel’s return spell. Darren Sammy, the West Indies’ world Twenty20 winning captain, broke the stand with a brilliant low catch at fine leg off Cutting in the 15th over. Azam followed in the next over as he fell to Lahore-born South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir, when Miller didn’t miss a second opportunity in the deep. Shoaib Malik (38 off 20 balls) lifted the total with a little cameo and Imad Wasim (15 not out) hoisted Thisara Perera for two sixes in the last over which went for 21. Hashim Amla (26) and Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal (18) gave the World XI a promising start to its run-chase with a 43-run stand. But left-arm seamer Rumman Raees dismissed both batsmen in the last over of batting powerplay. Du Plessis (29) briefly threatened the Pakistan total, hitting four boundaries and a six. But the hosts struck back with leg-spinner Shadab Khan (2-33) removing Du Plessis and Miller (9). Sammy (29 not out) reduced the margin of defeat by hitting three sixes. With inputs from AP
Highlights, cricket result, Pakistan vs World XI, 2nd T20I at Lahore: Perera's blitz helps visitors level series 1-1
Perera wins it with a SIX straight down the ground! World XI win by 7 wickets and with a ball to spare! Series level 1-1
 "Highlights, cricket result, Pakistan vs World XI, 2nd T20I at Lahore: Perera's blitz helps visitors level series 1-1")
So.. the World XI have squared off the series, making the 3rd T20I to be played on Friday the decider, where the winner takes it all! Great game for the fans in Lahore in fact all across Pakistan and the World.
It is fun bringing you the live coverage of the 2nd T20I, we look forward to your company on Friday as well. Do tune in, until then see ya!
Blistering knock by Thisara Perera keeps World Xl alive. Sri Lanka would so dearly want him to do this more regularly for the national team
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 13, 2017
After 20 overs,World XI 175/3 ( Hashim Amla 72 , Thisara Perera 47)
Raees had the chance to become the hero once again as he ran in to defend 13 off 6 balls, but he wasn’t supported by his fielders when he needed to. He began with a wide ball on the off side, then a misfield allowed Perera to return for a second run at long off. Perera smashes it down the ground for a single to long off. Amla skies one off the third ball but the ball lands in no man’s and they scamper for two runs. A timely single of the 4th ball to give Perera two balls and six runs away from the target. Raees misses his length and full toss is smashed straight to end the game and level the series 1-1.
Blistering knock by Thisara Perera keeps World Xl alive. Sri Lanka would so dearly want him to do this more regularly for the national team
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 13, 2017
After 19 overs,World XI 163/3 ( Hashim Amla 69 , Thisara Perera 38)
What an over, this has been, Malik dropped Perera off the 4th ball on long off. One fo the better fielders in the Pakistan side has put down a regulation catch. Two sixes and a drop has given Raees, 13 in the bank. can he defend off the final six balls?
After 18 overs,World XI 142/3 ( Hashim Amla 69 , Thisara Perera 19)
Raees delivers a brilliant over just when needed. He went for a six but ensures to keep it to 8 off the over. Amla tries all the fancy flicks and paddles which do not look good when he is doing it, neither it comes off. 33 off 12 possible? Certainly, Game on!
After 17 overs,World XI 134/3 ( Hashim Amla 68 , Thisara Perera 11)
There is an appeal off the first ball for a caught and bowled by Sohail Khan. The soft-signal was not out and replays confirm the ball bounced before going onto the pads and then to the bowler. 41 off 18 with Perera’a big shots and Amla guiding him along there should get over the line.
After 16 overs,World XI 124/3 ( Hashim Amla 66 , Thisara Perera 4)
Sloppy by Pakistan, the misfields helps them to get an extra run off the first ball, couple of boundaries endables them to collect 12 runs off the over
After 15 overs,World XI 112/3 ( Hashim Amla 55 , Thisara Perera 3)
Shadab Khan goes for 6 singles off the six balls. Whenever there si a fall of a wicket, the World XI are making sure they do not get in too many dot balls. Perera gets off the mark with a single on the onside and continues to take singles without risking his wicket. He needs to play sensibly which he seldom does.
After 14 overs,World XI 106/3 ( Hashim Amla 52 , )
The plan was working well with singles off the over and one big hit but Faf pays for getting greedy. 4 singles of the first four balls and then a six, but Faf wanted more and went for the shot. Interestingly Thisara Perera walks out ahead of David Miller
After 13 overs,World XI 96/2 ( Hashim Amla 49 , Faf du Plessis (C) 13)
Simple and clear batting by both the batsmen. Take singles off the over and smash one bad ball for a boundary. Faf goes downtown this time to make it 10 off the over. World XI close to 100.
After 12 overs,World XI 86/2 ( Hashim Amla 47 , Faf du Plessis (C) 5)
World XI get a move on in this over, courtesy Amla’s big hit. A couple of singles and and six helps them collect 8 runs of the over. There was loud shout against him, he was on his backfoot and seemed close but the umpire has turned it down.
After 11 overs,World XI 78/2 ( Hashim Amla 40 , Faf du Plessis (C) 4)
6 singles of every delivery ensures World XI get 6 runs. There was a run out appeal on the fourth ball and it seemed a tough decision for the 3rd umpire, matter of a frame, the benefit of doubt goes perhaps to the batting side, nothing in it actually. Good time to get in some quiet overs.
After 10 overs,World XI 72/2 ( Hashim Amla 37 , Faf du Plessis (C) 1)
Faf joins his countryman Hashim Amla in the middle. A couple of balls bounce a little oddly and a quiet over of just 2 runs is a good thing for Pakistan. Faf gets off the mark on the 5th ball of the over.
After 9 overs,World XI 70/1 ( Hashim Amla 36 , Tim Paine (W) 10)
Shadab Khan introduced into the attack and Amla makes room and slog sweeps over mid wicket for a superb six, after Paine takes a single off the first ball. Amla and Paine exchang 3 more singles and dot to finish.
After 8 overs,World XI 60/1 ( Hashim Amla 28 , Tim Paine (W) 8)
Superb over by Imad Wasim. Just four off it. Single to long-on off the first ball. Sarfraz as always marshalling and encouraging his troops, shouting advice every ball.There was a run out chance in the over of the fifth bal, but the fielder at cover fielder didn’t pick it up cleanly.
After 7 overs,World XI 56/1 ( Hashim Amla 26 , Tim Paine (W) 6)
Mohammad Nawaz brought into the attack. Sarfraz likes to shuffle his bowlers. 7 runs of the 7th over, 50 comes up for the World XI.
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