Hashim Amla scored an unbeaten 55-ball 72 as the World XI beat Pakistan by seven wickets to level the three-match T20I series at 1-1.
It was an inspiring innings from the Proteas star who hit five fours and two sixes to take the visitors over the line with one ball remaining.
He was perfectly assisted by a quick-fire performance by Thisara Perera who smashed five sixes for his 19-ball 47 to help his side claim the victory.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first and the hosts did well thanks to a quick 13-ball 21 from Fakhar Zaman who helped steer them seven runs short of 50, before he lost his wicket to Samuel Badree (2-31) in the fifth over.
But Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam steadied the ship with a 59-run partnership to see Pakistan reach the 100-run mark. Their wickets were crucial to Pakistan’s demise as Imran Tahir struck two balls into 12th over to dismiss Ahmed (43 off 34 balls).
Babar came close to repeating his heroics on Tuesday, but only managed to stick around to see his side add 35 more runs before he lost his scalp for Badree’s second two balls into the 17th over.
A 39 from Shoaib Malik and a 15-run stint from Imad Wasim saw their side post 174-6 in their 20 overs.
The World XI had a rocky chase as Tamim Iqbal (23), Tim Pain (10) and Faf du Plessis (20) all got off to quick starts but failed to see the innings through with Amla from the top, as they crept to 106-3 by the end of the 14th over.
It was the Amla and Perera show from there on out as they scored 69 runs off 35 balls to take their side to a seven-wicket win.
The series decider between the two sides will take place on Friday.
Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images
