Babar Azam stars as Pakistan beat WXI in first T20

LAHORE: Courtesy a rapid innings of 86 by Babar Azam, Pakistan won the first T20 match of the Independence Cup by 20 runs, going 1-0 up in the three-match series against a star-studded World XI.  

Chasing 198 runs, World XI managed to score 177 runs with the loss of seven wickets. Sohail Khan, Rumman Raees and Shadab Khan took two wickets each. 

Middle order batsman Azam was awarded Man of the Match for his sure-footed inning of 86 off 52 balls. 

Speaking in the post match ceremony, Azam said: "There was no pressure. It was just a slow wicket, so I thought I'll take my time and play my natural game. Once I got a partnership with Ahmed Shehzad, I just wanted to take it as far as I could."

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed stated: "It was a very important match, after Champions Trophy. No praise is too high for our players, especially Babar Azam, and the way Ahmed Shehzad played, and the way Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim finished the innings. We've got some very good players, which is why the selection committee is giving them a lot of opportunities. Our fitness is getting better day after day, and the humidity today was a test of it, and we passed it."

Captain of the visiting side, Faf du Plessis said: "It was a good game, I thought Pakistan played exceptionally well. 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. I needed to get a 50 or 60 for us to win. Quick turnaround, I don't think I've ever played two T20s in two days. Great to play in front of the Pakistani fans, hopefully next two games we can get a full house."

World XI openers Hashim Amla and Tamim Iqbal had steadily kicked off the innings against Pakistan. Both the batsmen challenged the home side's bowling attack effectively before the entry of Raees. 

Pakistan got their first breakthrough as fast bowler Raees dismissed Iqbal in his first over. World XI lost its first wicket on 43 runs. 

In the same over, Raees also took the wicket of in-form Hashim Amla. Pakistan diluted all the pressure the openers had built against it. 

With Amla's dismissal, Skipper Faf du Plessis came on the crease. The skipper played a brief but a classic inning of 29 off 18 balls, which included four boundaries and a six. 

Shadab Khan gave the home side the breakthrough it needed by dismissing Du Plessis on a googly.

Middle order batsman Tim Paine was not able to play a decisive inning as he departed on 25 off 25 after falling prey to a delivery by Sohail Khan. 

The next man in was David Miller. The South African batsman looked dangerous for the Pakistani side as he hit Shadab Khan out of the ground. But in a dramatic turn of the match, Khan, who was hit for a six a ball before, trapped him for stumps. Miller departed on nine.

Fortunately for Pakistan, the famous PSL 'bat-drop' from Grant Elliot did not happen tonight. The Kiwi batsman was dismissed on a slow-ball by fast bowler Sohail Khan when he was on eight runs. 

Darren Sammy played a charged inning of 29 off 16 balls. He smashed three sixes and one four. The West Indian player was not sent back to the pavilion until the end of the match. 

Earlier, fiery innings by Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik put Pakistan on top against the visitors. 

Pakistan lost its first wicket in the very first over of the game as Fakhar Zaman edged to first slip on the bowl of Morne Morkel. After the dismissal of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam was joined on the crease by Ahmad Shahzad. 

Babar Azam and Ahmed Shahzad put on a solid partnership for the third wicket, however, both were dismissed within a few overs of each other. 

Pakistan lost its second wicket when Ahmed Shahzad (39) was dismissed by Ben Cutting in the 15th over of the innings. 

Babar Azam played a magnificent knock but fell short of his century when he was dismissed by Imran Tahir for 86. 

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed failed to score big as he was caught behind on a delivery of Sri lankan bowler Thesara Perera. Ahmed scored 4 runs. 

Shoaib Malik took ahead Pakistani innings with his formidable 38 runs off 20 balls. He scored four boundaries and two sixes. Malik was dismissed by Sri lankan bowler Thisara Perera. 

Imad Wasim was the next batsman to come. He scored a massive six in the last ball of the Pakistani batting inning. 

Earlier, the World XI won the toss and elected to bowl first against Pakistan. 

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