LAHORE: A hard-hitting 89-run knock by Ahmed Shehzad on Friday guided Pakistan to their 33-run victory over World XI and win the Independence Cup series 2-1, as the nation celebrated the return of international cricket to the country.
Batting first, Pakistan posted 183 runs in their allotted 20 overs losing four wickets. Opener Shehzad struck a brilliant 55-ball innings, hitting eight fours and three sixes. Fakhar Zaman’s 27 off 25 balls helped Shehzad build an opening partnership of 61 runs.
Shehzad then shared a 102-run second-wicket stand with Babar Azam, who hit five fours in his 31-ball 48 runs, while Shoaib Malik scored 17 runs off seven deliveries. Two Pakistani batsmen were run out. For World XI, Thisara Perera took two wickets for 37 runs in his fours overs
