Published on 12:00 AM, September 16, 2017

Pak rejoice with series win

The Pakistan team pose with the winners' trophy after sealing the three-match series against the World XI with a 33-run victory in the third T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday, but a bigger victory had already been achieved before a ball was bowled as the series marked the return of big-time cricket to the country. Photo: AFP
Afp, Lahore

Pakistan celebrated the return of international cricket with a thumping 33-run win to clinch the final Twenty20 match and the series against a World XI team at Lahore's Gaddafi stadium Friday.

The hosting of the short series is a major step towards convincing international teams to begin touring Pakistan again, with Sri Lanka already due to play a Twenty20 match in Lahore on October 29.

Foreign teams have refused to tour Pakistan since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.

Under Sarfraz Ahmed, Pakistan outplayed the World XI -- with cricketers from seven countries -- in Friday's decider to match the important occasion by claiming the series 2-1.

World XI captain Faf du Plessis hailed the series as a big step and success.

"This has been a huge success," said du Plessis. "We wanted to come here and play a small part in cricket coming back to Pakistan. Thank everyone for the opportunity for coming here.”

Batting for World XI, only Thisara Perera, with a 13-ball 32 including three sixes and two fours, and David Miller, who hit a 29-ball 32, made significant contributions. Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal wasted his third start of the series, scoring 14 off 10 balls with three boundaries before being bowled by pacer Usman Khan in the second over of the chase.

Others never got going in a shaky chase which saw three World XI batsmen run out. Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali finished as the best bowler with figures of two for 28.

Earlier, Pakistan's 183 for four after being asked to bat by du Plessis was built around opener Ahmed Shehzad's 55-ball 89 and a 31-ball 48 by Babar Zaman.  The two added 102 runs for the second wicket after Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman for 27.

SCORES IN BRIEF

PAKISTAN: 183 for 4 in 20 overs (Fakhar 27, Shehzad 89, Babar 48, Malik not out 17; Perera 2-37)

WORLD XI: 150 for 8 in 20 overs (Perera 32, Miller 32, Sammy 24, Amla 21, Tamim 14; Hasan 2-28, Rumman 1-20, Usman 1-26)

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