The comeback of cricket in Pakistan could not have been better as the home side dominated the World XI side in every department of the game. Pakistan players gifted a perfect win to the cricket fans in the country despite the fact that the game got pretty one-sided towards the end. Pakistan won the first T20I of the Independence Cup 2017 by a margin of 20 runs as World XI needed 34 runs off the last over with West Indies all-rounder Darren Sammy and Thisara Perera in the middle.
Pakistan batsmen kept the crowd at Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore on the edge of the seat in the first innings as they were asked to bat first by World XI skipper Faf du Plessis. ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final hero Fakhar Zaman could not live up to the expectations as he got out before scoring in double digits. Ahmed Shehzad too struggled to get off to a flier but Babar Azam entertained the crowd with his strokeplay.
Azam was adjudged Man of the Match for scoring 86 runs from 52 balls with the help of 10 fours and 2 sixes. Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim too chipped in with cameos helping the team post a gigantic total of 197 for 4 in the first innings.
Here is how Pakistan players reacted to the win in the first match including Mohammad Amir who is with his new born child and wife in England-
Welldone team pakistan and good fight back by world XI
— Mohammad Amir (@iamamirofficial) September 12, 2017
Cricket is in the Air. Jeevay Pakistan
Thank you World 11 for giving us a day to remember.Well played @babarazam258 #CricketComesHome— Kainat Imtiaz (@kainatimtiaz16) September 12, 2017
Unbelievable feeling!
Game is done! in one up!
Thanks WXIfor giving this beautiful country days and moments to remember#PAKvWXI— Syeda Nain Abidi (@SyedaNain18) September 12, 2017
Congratulations #teampak.
A wonderful win. Well played @babarazam258
You all proved once again that our bowling combination is the best.— Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) September 12, 2017
Well done team Pakistan , well played @babarazam258 , enjoyed the crowd response & atmosphere created by them, cheering for every1
— Mohammad Hafeez (@MHafeez22) September 12, 2017
Jeevay Pakistan! Well done team Pakistan! You batted like champions and bowled like warriors! (1/2) #CricketComesHome #PAKvsWorldXI
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 12, 2017
Here is how other Twitterati reacted to Pakistan’s perfect start to the Independence Cup 2017-
A much needed big international match for the simple, cheering fans of Pakistan cricket. Wonderful enthusiasm and a good victory.#PAKvWXI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 12, 2017
Thanks for your help @Cuttsy31 …
Today Pakistan won the match but you all won our hearts#PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/JrzQpKCanh— Saman ShahaB (@cocomo___) September 12, 2017
6ممالک مل کر بھی انہی نہيں ہارہ پائے تو ہم کس کھیت کی مولی ہیں#CricketBackHome#IndependenceCup #PAKvWXIpic.twitter.com/gum12qi7lH
— ﺳَــــــﺮﭘﮭِـــــﺮا (@YeAwaraPan) September 12, 2017
Y’all nasty asf #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/9VJHeqXQtf
— (@invalidbae) September 12, 2017
Here is the favourite moment of Twitterati from the match
Fell on a terrific yorker, applauded the bowler even before standing up. Greatness level: Darren Sammy#PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/Vlk5ZbL5t8
— Haseeb Arshad (@HaseebTweets) September 12, 2017
#Agree ?#DarrenSammy @darensammy88 #PAKvWXI #WXIvPAK #CricketComesHome #CricketKiHalalala pic.twitter.com/paZBtbXqIN
— Ali Hafeez (@itsme_aJm) September 12, 2017
#HuaweiPakistan #HuaweiY7Prime #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/aHEHvlRVwn
— Javed Tanoli (@JavedZardad) September 12, 2017
Perfect yorker from Hasan Ali in the last over – even Darren Sammy was clapping #PAKvWXI #Cricket pic.twitter.com/jk4Eo0TkdB
— #INDvAUS #PAKvWXI (@StarSportsNDTV) September 12, 2017
Appreciation of this man, @darensammy88 we salute you sir , #PAKvsWorldXI #PAKvWXI https://t.co/fEb0ZeT11c
— Hasham Ali (@Hashamali707) September 12, 2017
Pakistan are scheduled to play the next T20I against World XI on September 13 at the same venue. They might get a fight this time around as the visitors gear up to pack a punch after the loss in the first match.
