It was a great spectacle watching the World XI side being welcomed in a grand fashion in Pakistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. More than winning or losing, it was about rejuvenating the game of cricket in the country. But for the thousands of fans gathered in the stands, a victory was all that mattered and that’s what they were presented by their favorite players whom they waited for a number of years to see them in action.
All the hype around the Independence Cup settled quickly and Pakistan meant business from the outset. Put into bat after losing the toss, even though they lost Fakhar Zaman early, Babar Azam kept them in the driver’s seat with a blistering knock. The No.3 batsman scored 86 runs off just 52 balls with 10 fours and 2 sixes to provide impetus to the innings.
At one stage, when Azam departed, the hosts seemed like falling short of the desired target but Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim played quickfire cameos to power the side to a massive 197/7 at the end of 20 overs. All the World XI bowlers traveled the distance and with Morne Morkel going at 8 an over, being the most economical.
The visitors began the chase with a steady opening partnership. But Rumman Raees removed both the openers Tamim Iqbal and Hashim Amla in the 6th over to halt the progress. The skipper Faf du Plessis and Tim Paine stayed there for a while but the required run rate kept creeping up.
Thisara Perera and Darren Sammy tried hard at the end with a few lusty blows out of the park but it turned out to be too little too late as the World XI side fell short by 20 runs. Pakistan won the match quite comprehensively at the end and took a 1-0 lead with 2 matches yet to be played in the series.
Here are the best tweets that celebrated the return of the game in Pakistan
Unbelievable feeling!
Game is done! 🇵🇰 in one up!🙂
Thanks WXI🙏🏻for giving this beautiful country days and moments to remember🤝#PAKvWXI— Syeda Nain Abidi عابدی (@SyedaNain18) September 12, 2017
The best thing about World XI kind of teams. They always attract a lot of attention and they always lose!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 12, 2017
Hasan Ali – you know a yorker is special when Wasim Akram on commentary says "that yorker was right on the money" #Cricket #PAKvWXI
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 12, 2017
Irrespective of the outcome of the series, it's the cricket that's going to be the winner #PAKvWXI #PAKvWorldXI #PAKvsWorldXI #WorldXI
— Shubham Khare (@shubhamkhare71) September 12, 2017
Cricket is home. Beautiful scenes from Gaddafi Stadium 💚🇵🇰#PAKvWXI #PAKvsWorldXI pic.twitter.com/volglQXRk1
— From the Nahr to the Bahr 🇵🇸 (@moonlitcemetery) September 12, 2017
Perfect yorker from Hasan Ali in the last over – even Darren Sammy was clapping #PAKvWXI #Cricket pic.twitter.com/GLxeapfWPQ
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) September 12, 2017
Babar Azam 86 – now 2nd highest in a T20 International game in Pakistan.
Best: 87* by Misbah-ul-Haq vs Ban at Karachi 20-4-2008.#PAKvWXI— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 12, 2017
Shane Shadab Khan ! This lad is X Factor in any format
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) September 12, 2017
World XI's drive has a lot of speed breakers. An unpleasant one. #PAKvWXI
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 12, 2017
What a start to #CricketComesHome for Pakistan, Pak team looks far better than World XI . Come on boys finish it in style
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 12, 2017
World XI looks competitive enough to keep us interested in the game but seem undercooked enough to ensure home crowd gets to celebrate a win
— cricBC (@cricBC) September 12, 2017
Thisara Perera to tell his grandchildren… "I once played for a World XI".
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) September 12, 2017
