Amla And Thisara Perera Secure World XI's Win By 7 Wicket

Amla And Thisara Perera Secure World XI's Win By 7 Wicket

Hashim Amla smashed a half century and Thisara Perera provided an excellent finish with a 19-ball 47 as World XI defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international on Wednesday.

“Hash (Amla) told me to stay till the last moment because we can catch up,” man of the match Perera said. “It’s a habit for me to be in this situation.”

After Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik powered Pakistan to 174/6, the World XI – led by Amla and Perera – chased the target with a ball to spare to level the three-match series 1-1. Amla, who was unbeaten on 72 off 55, got just the perfect partner in Thisara Perera as the asking rate continued to climb with each passing over.

But the Sri Lankan all-rounder made sure the visiting team win the match keep the series. He played a blazing 19-ball 47 with five sixes.

The left-handed batsman even hit a six to finish the match.

Pakistan beat the World XI by 20 runs in an exciting finish to the first T20 on Tuesday.

The nation celebrated the return of international cricket to the country amid tight security.

The T20 match, accorded international status by the International Cricket Council, was only the second time Pakistan hosted an international match since militants attacked the bus of the visiting Sri Lankan team in March 2009, killing eight people and injuring seven players and staff.