Babar’s 86 edges out World XI in Lahore

Babar Azam showed why he is considered the future of Pakistan batting, as his 52-ball 86 carried Pakistan to a comfortable 20-run win over the World XI in the first T20I. After Fakhar Zaman was dismissed in the first over, Babar put on a 122-run partnership with Ahmed Shahzad to set Pakistan up for a big finish.

Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim then helped Pakistan score 48 runs in the last three overs to finish with 197, their fourth-highest T20 total. World XI’s weak bowling attack was laid surgically bare, with only their specialist bowlers – Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir – providing a semblance of control.

However, the opening pair of Hashim Amla and Tamim Iqbal would be the envy of most sides. Hashim Amla was at his elegant best, providing that unique mix: grace and a brisk strike rate. At least one of them needed to bat through, but both fell in the 5th over, and the target began to fade into the distance.  

Faf du Plessis kept World XI in the hunt, taking 22 off a Hasan Ali over, but in a chase that cried out for a substantial contribution, World XI had only cameos to offer. 

Where the match was won 

Morkel is the side’s only specialist fast bowler, and he relies far more heavily on bounce than Lahore’s pitch could bear. His short deliveries sat up for Babar. The part-time medium pace of Ben Cutting, Darren Sammy, and Thisara Perera, who went for 51 in his four overs, proved to be far too easy for the Pakistan batsmen. World XI looked to have conceded about 20 runs too many, and it was fitting that that was the winning margin. 

The men that won it

Babar’s star continues to shine. The 23-year-old had only ever played one match in Pakistan in his career – an ODI against Zimbabwe – but he showed he could handle the pressure with a classy innings that left World XI in his wake right from the start. He seemed set to become the second Pakistan player to score a T20 hundred, but holed out to David Miller on the midwicket boundary as Pakistan pushed for 200. 

The spin doctors

The moment of the match

The first over of the game was Pakistan’s batting in a nutshell. Fakhar Zaman inside-edged the first ball for a boundary, before timing an exquisite square cut off the second delivery for four. Two balls later, he nicked Morkel to Hashim Amla at wide slip. Ahmed Shehzad then played two attractive drives that went straight to fielders. It doesn’t matter where they are, that’s how Pakistan play anyway. 

Where they stand 

Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0, with two games to go. The second T20I will be played at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. (ESPNCricinfo)