Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera proved to be the X-factor that the World XI team needed to challenge Pakistan’s score in the 2nd T20I of Independence Cup 2017. Perera came to bat after skipper Faf du Plessis lost his wicket on the last ball of the 14th over. World XI needed to score 69 runs from 36 balls with opener Hashim Amla at the runner’s end, seeking a strong partnership to get World XI near the target. As soon as Perera came to the pitch, he took control and smashed one six after another to take World XI past Pakistan’s score.
Perera dealt in singles in the first over he faced, scoring no boundary in the 15th over. The pressure had begun to mount. Perera was trying to get Amla on strike who had already been hit a half-century. With 51 runs needed from 24 balls, Perera realised that Amla would need support from the other end as the required run rate had shot up to 12.75 runs per over.
Perera targetted the Pakistan fast bowler Sohail Khan in the 17th over. On the fourth ball of Sohail’s over, he struck a maximum, thereby releasing a bit of pressure and kept the required run rate in check.
SIX! 16.4 Sohail Khan to Thisara Perera
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/Hax01sakij— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
Sohail continued bowling in the 19th over. 33 runs were needed in the last two overs and Perera decided to throw his bat at everything.
SIX! 17.3 Raees to Thisara Perera
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/3beZpd7uvx— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
Perera hit two sixes in Shoaib Malik’s over. It proved to be crucial over as it brought World XI back to the game and caused jitters in the Pakistan camp.
SIX! 18.1 Sohail Khan to Thisara Perera
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/5JVBaDClZO— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
Rumaan Raees bowled the last over as World XI needed 13 runs to win the match. Perera and Amla picked up ones and twos but boundary was proving hard to come by. Amla was tired and everyone had their eyes set on Perera.
SIX! 18.5 Sohail Khan to Thisara Perera
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/5pM1p2sbPw— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
With 6 runs needed off 2 balls, Perera went for the kill. Raees bowled a full toss and Perera smashed the ball over the field and over the sight screen for a six.
SIX! 18.5 Sohail Khan to Thisara Perera
Watch the match at https://t.co/ssrhnqqgQA#CricketKiHalalala #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/foRSvojrAS— PCB Official (@TheRealPCB) September 13, 2017
One bizarre fact in Perera’s innings was that he struck 5 sixes in his inning without hitting any fours. Perera backed his strength and took the aerial route to keep the World XI in contention. Perera took Amla home and kept the T20I series alive.
