Top 5 T20Is of 2017

#3 Pakistan vs World XI – Lahore

Thisara Perera and Hashim Amla batted beautifully to help World XI level the series

International cricket returned to Pakistan after a gap of about 8 years. With the hosts set to face off against a World XI team comprising some top stars, fans thronged the stadium. Pakistan celebrated the occasion with a win in the first T20I.

After scoring 197 in the first game, the hosts opted to bat first in the second T20I as well after winning the toss. Ahmed Shehzad (43) and Fakhar Zaman (21) gave them a good start before it was consolidated by Babar Azam (45). Pakistan though found themselves at 135/3 in the 17th over and it looked as though they would finish with an under-par score. But the experienced Shoaib Malik’s cameo (23-ball 39) propelled Pakistan to 174.

Chasing a big total, World XI got off to a good start as they reached 48/1 in 6 overs. However, Pakistan's spinners (Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan and Mohammed Nawaz) bowled well to apply the breaks whilst also scalping a couple of crucial wickets.

Only Hashim Amla was able to find the gaps, scoring freely but without any support from the other end. Hence, Thisara Perera got a promotion and walked in at No. 5 with 69 needed off 6 overs. With a required run-rate of more than 12, World XI needed to put their foot on the pedal to stay alive in the series and Perera did just that.

With Amla looking solid at one end, Perera decided to tee off once he got his eye in. With 33 needed of the final two overs, the Sri Lankan all-rounder hit three sixes in the 19th over to fetch 20 runs (the over also included a dropped chance). The equation reduced to 13 runs from the final over. Rumman Raees was entrusted with the responsibility of bowling the final over and his first four deliveries were decent as he conceded 7 runs to bring it down to 6 off the last two balls. But Perera struck a magnificent six to seal the game on the penultimate ball.

Amla finished with an unbeaten 72 but it was Perera who took the World XI side home with a 19-ball 47 which included 5 sixes.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 174 for 6 (Babar Azam 45, Ahmed Shehzad 43, Shoaib Malik 39, Thisara Perera 2-23) lost to World XI 175 for 3 (Amla 72*, Thisara Perera 47*, Imad Wasim 1/27)