Pakistan defeat World XI by 33 runs to win Independence Cup
Pakistan defeated the visiting World XI by 33 runs in a gripping contest for the Independence Cup at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.
World XI skipper Faf du Plessis won the toss today and put Pakistan in to bat first, as was the case in the first two matches of the series.
The green shirts in their innings set a target of 184 runs for the visiting side in the Twenty20 international (T20I) series finale, but the World XI managed to pile on only 150 runs with eight wickets.
The game appeared to be on knife's edge until the last few overs, when Pakistan regained control of the innings, taking crucial wickets as the international side began giving the green shirts the run-around with a series of hard knocks.
Pakistan was labouring under the aggressive batting of heavy-hitter Thisara Perera ─ who smashed a 4 and three 6s off young Shadab Khan ─ when he was caught by Babar Azam off a delivery from Rumman Raees.
Then the game turned on its head.
First Babar went on to catch David Miller at deep mid-wicket as he attempted to smack Hassan Ali out of the park. Then he ran out Morne Morkel, and a sense of urgency returned to the World XI batting side.