Badree shines as World XI level series

LAHORE, Pakistan (CMC) – West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree played a key role as the World XI levelled the three-match Independence Cup Twenty20 series with a seven-wicket win at the Gaddafi Stadium in Pakistan Wednesday.
Asked to chase 175, the World XI reached their target with a single ball to spare, setting up a series decider in today’s third and final contest.
South African stroke-maker Hashim Amla spearheaded the visitors’ run chase with an unbeaten 72 off 55 deliveries while Sri Lankan Thisara Perera struck a scintillating 47 not out off just 19 balls.
The World XI were 106 for three at the end of the 14th – still requiring 69 runs from 36 deliveries – but Amla stroked five fours and two sixes while Perera belted five sixes in an unbroken fourth wicket stand to steer their side to a pulsating win.
Electing to bat earlier, Pakistan reached 174 for six off their 20 overs with Badree finishing with two for 31 from his four overs.
Perera took two for 23 from three overs of right-arm seam.
Once again, Babar Azam led the batting with a top score of 45 off 38 balls while Ahmed Shehzad chipped in with 43 from 34 deliveries and Shoaib Malik, 39 from 23 balls.
Shehzad put on 41 for the first wicket with Fakhar Zaman who made 21 before missing a slog at Badree and falling lbw in the in the fifth over.
Azam arrived to add a further 59 for the second wicket with Shehzad who finally perished in the 13th over.