Thisara Perera slammed 47 off just 19 balls as World XI defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets in the second T20I to level the three-match series 1-1.
Chasing 175 to level the series, Tamim Iqbal and Hashim Amla gave World XI a blazing start, slamming 30 runs off the first 3 overs. However, their partnership could not last long as Sohail Khan dismissed Tamim to end the 47-run stand.
Tamim’s departure slowed down the runs a bit before Pakistan further tightened their grip on the game when Imad Wasim clean bowled Tim Paine to leave the visitors reeling at 71 for 2 in the 10th over. With the game in such a precarious position for World XI, they suffered yet another blow when Mohammad Nawaz dismissed captain Faf du Plessis for 20.
Amla was holding firm from the other hand as he kept the visitors in the tie. The equation was finally down to 41 off 18 balls with Amla and hard-hitting Thisara Perera in the middle. Amla conceded three dot balls in the 18th over and a result World XI could score only 8 off that over despite Perera hitting a six. The Sri Lankan batsman then began the penultimate over in fine fashion,hitting a big six off Sohail Khan before following it with three twos and a six as the tourists gathered 20 runs off the 19th over.
With 13 needed from the last over, Rumman Raees began the over with a wide. A couple of twos and singles brought down the equation to 6 off the last 2 balls before Perera sealed the match with another six. Perera remained unbeaten on 47 off just 19 balls with the help of 5 sixes while Amal scored 72 off 55.
Earlier, Babar Azam once again top-scored for the hosts, scoring 45 as the Men in Green posted a challenging 174 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. Pakistan were off to a decent start with Fakhar Zaman and Ahmed Shehzad adding 41 runs for the first wicket before the former was sent back by Samuel Badree.
Shehzad and Azam then once again compiled a good partnership to lay the foundation for a good total. The duo had added 122 runs in the second game and once again shared 59 runs for the second wicket before Imran Tahir ended the partnership by dismissing Shehzad.
The home side lost some quick wickets towards the end by senior batsman Shoaib Malik once again helped them to finish the innings on a strong note by scoring 39 off just 23 balls including 3 sixes and a four.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the match:
Thisara's match-turning show… this is like taking a flight from the mundane to the fantasy land.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 13, 2017
Pakistan delivered ten full tosses which in total conceded 28 runs; the World XI bowled five, costing just six runs. #PAKvWXI
— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) September 13, 2017
Finally an international victory for World XI after losing five intls in a row.
This win coming after 12 years, 8 months, 3 days!#PakvWXI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 13, 2017
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
Thisara Perera out-batting a set Hashim Amla, could you have thought that?#ProudPererian ? #PAKvWXI
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 13, 2017
Thisara Perera in Boss mode.#PakvWXI pic.twitter.com/TW14zwulug
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 13, 2017
Tim Paine shows why Wade is in the team. #PAKvWXI
— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 13, 2017
World XI need 51 to win from 24 balls. Pakistan clewar favorites with Thisara Perera batting #PAKvWXI
— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) September 13, 2017
Expecting Thisara to fail with the bat today. He only scores half the runs he concedes with the ball on a normal day. #PakvWXI
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 13, 2017
Shoaib Malik with his 39 in the 2nd T20I has become Pakistan's top scorer in T20Is #PAKvWXI
S Malik 1702
U Akmal 1690
M Hafeez 1619— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 13, 2017
Shoaib Malik has to be one of the best in terms of building an innings in limited overs cricket. The perfect man for our middle order.
— Haroon (@hazharoon) September 13, 2017
Most runs after 10 T20Is
418 Aaron Finch
384 Babar Azam (today)
376 Chris Gayle
365 Kusal Perera#PakvWXI— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/SportsJournoo/status/907931424182951936