Pakistan clinches historic 2-1 series win

It was a win-win situation for Pakistan both on and off the ground as it won the third and final Twenty20 international against World XI by 33 runs to clinch the series 2-1 and lift the Independence Cup on Friday.

The icing on the cake: Pakistan can now lay claim to hosting bigger teams in the next two years after hosting a safe Pakistan Super League final, and now this World XI comprising of cricketers from seven countries.

Despite the loss, the World XI players won many hearts for having the courage to tour a country marred by terrorism and where no international team other than Zimbabwe had toured since terror attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus suspended all international cricket.

Pakistan proved to be the better equipped side in home conditions, winning the first match by 20 runs on Tuesday. World XI then ensured there was everything to play for in the final game by winning the second match by seven wickets on Wednesday.

Friday began promisingly for Pakistan as Hasan Ali, the up-and-coming pacer, recovered from a back problem which forced him to sit out the second game. He replaced Sohail Khan while World XI gave George Bailey a look-in and brought back Darren Sammy.

Hasan's inclusion reinforced Pakistan's bowling as they kept a sharp line and length and showed discipline, something that was lacking in the second game.

After allowing Pakistan to make 183 for 4, World XI started poorly with the bat. Pakistan dropped Tamim Iqbal off the very first ball, but it didn't prove costly as Usman Khan, the left-arm pacer, bowled the Bangladeshi opener for 14 to give the home side the breakthrough.

World XI lost two more wickets in the fifth over with Ben Cutting (five) bowled by Hasan, and Hashim Amla (21) getting run out. Pakistan made further inroads with the wickets of Faf du Plessis (13) and George Bailey (three) to reduce the visiting side to 67 for 5.

Thisara Perera smashed three sixes and a four in one Shadab Khan over to give Pakistan a scare, but once he holed out off Rumman Raees and David Miller (32 off 29 balls, 2x4, 1x6) was dismissed, it was all over for World XI.

Pakistan's victory, though, was set up by Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam.

Shehzad, the only Pakistani batsmen to have hit hundreds in all three formats, narrowly missed out on his second T20I ton as he fell for a brilliant 55-ball 89 studded with eight boundaries and three sixes. His last hundred came against Bangladesh during ICC World Twenty20 2014.

Zaman and Shehzad began with a flurry of boundaries to take Pakistan to 50 for no loss in 5.5 overs. Both hit a boundary each off Samuel Badree's first over, but the introduction of Darren Sammy and Imran Tahir reduced the scoring rate as the former Windies captain conceded just two in the seventh over.

Zaman was unlucky to be run out, backing up too far, as Sammy deflected a straight drive off Shehzad to the stumps.

Just as they had done in the previous two games, it was again Azam and Shehzad that set the foundation for Pakistan, this time putting on 102 for the second wicket.

Shehzad completed his seventh T20I fifty off 37 balls but was only able to accelerate in the 18th over when he lifted Cutting for two sixes to long-on and one towards fine-leg.

But Shehzad was also unlucky to be run out. He called Azam for a single off a wide delivery, but Cutting gathered the ball from Bailey, the wicketkeeper, and smartly hit the stumps at the non-striker's end.

The win aside, the packed crowd were treated to a special surprise when Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi, two of the country's stalwarts, made an appearance, and they were both given a lap of honour.