Twitter Reactions: Babar Azan and Shoaib Malik once again lift Pakistan to a solid total

Pakistan once again entertained the viewers with some outstanding natural stroke play. Opener Ahmed Shehzad scored a well paced 34-ball 43, including a six and five boundaries. He batted with a strike of 126 plus and gave the hosts a solid start, after Fakhar Zaman lost his wicket for 21, in the fifth over of the innings.

Babar Azam, who scored a splendid 86 the other night, started from where he had left in this one, and fetched five boundaries, for his 38-ball 45. Pacer Morne Morkel, who bowled 14 dot balls in his four overs, went for a few runs in his last over, as Imad Wasim timed a couple perfectly. Imad had to go back in the next over, caught by Imran Tahir.

World XI bowlers were impressive

For the visitors, apart from Morkel, Samuel Badree did a good job with the ball. The West Indian picked up the prized scalp of Babar, as the batsman went for a cross shot only to mistime it. 28-year old Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera bowled an impressive 19th over, as he picked two scalps- Imad first and then the skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed for a golden duck. He ended his three overs for 23 runs along with those two wickets.

Imran Tahir could only run around the park on one occasion, when he got the set opener Shehzad in the 13th over. Tahir was expensive, he went for more than 9 runs an over, and finished with 1/29 from 3 overs.

Malik plays yet another cameo

Malik repeated his antics from the first game, and played a cameo of 45 off 38 balls. He was dropped in the last over by David Miller, but the damage was done by then. Malik smacked a six in the penultimate ball of the innings but was caught in the last ball, as Paul Collingwood took a good low catch. The home team ended with 174/6 in their 20 overs.

Shoaib Malik becomes the highest run-getter for Pakistan in T20Is going past Umar Akmal's 1690 runs. #PAKvWXI

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 13, 2017

Thisara Perera taking wickets at the death.

You are lucky to have witnessed it.

— Nikhil ? (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 13, 2017

Ramiz Raja you were poor cricketer & are poor commentator. How that hit by Imad Wasim straight to fielder on no ball was CLEAN HIT? #PAKvWXI

— Manoj Ghimire (@themanojgh) September 13, 2017

Babar Azam has such calm about him in the middle. True successor to Inzamam and Misbah. #PAKvWXI

— cricBC (@cricBC) September 13, 2017

Most T20I runs for Pakistan
1702 Shoaib Malik*
1690 Umar Akmal
1618 Mohammad Hafeez
1405 Shahid Afridi#PAKvWXI

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) September 13, 2017

Colly showing the young uns how to catch… #pakvwxi

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) September 13, 2017

Most runs after 10 T20Is

418 Aaron Finch
384 Babar Azam (today)
376 Chris Gayle
365 Kusal Perera#PakvWXI

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) September 13, 2017

World XI please win this game so that i can enjoy the final match live at Gaddafi Stadium. #PAKvWXI

— Mughal-e-Atif (@aatifmughal) September 13, 2017

Babar Azam & Ahmed Shehzad

– 88 runs
– 72 balls
– 7.33 RPO

Rest of Pakistan

– 76 runs
– 8 overs
– 9.5 RPO

Extras 10#PAKvWXI

— Clive (@vanillawallah) September 13, 2017

There's so much elegance in Babar Azam. He's on 29 within no time and shahzad' 37 have been so painful to watch

— U.M.A.I.R (@WontFitIn) September 13, 2017

Yesterday Babar Azam's quick knock hid Shehzad's run a ball innings. Today that Azam is taking his time, Shehzad's knock looks horrible.

— Clive (@vanillawallah) September 13, 2017

Babar Azam continues his impressive form in the ongoing Independence Cup. #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/cX8UkfI087

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) September 13, 2017

Babar Azam is a fine player just needs to up his S/R a bit only T20s , bats at very good S/R in odis

— A (@i_Arhaan) September 13, 2017

Over the time we had Virat kohlis of all sizes:
-Umar Akmal
-Ahmed Shehzad
-Babar Azam (Sorry for mentioning this lad with those 2 idiots)

— Hamza (@iHamzahid) September 13, 2017

Kuch na do Ahmed Shehzad ly lo @BCCI

— Groot (@SufiYawn) September 13, 2017

Special thanks to Ahmed Shehzad for setting up this below par score on a phatta wicket.

— Assad (@LeftArmAround) September 13, 2017

Paul Collingwood…
41 years of age…
Still a better sportsman than Ahmed Shehzad.

— Sarmad H (@Mr_RobotElliot) September 13, 2017

If Ahmed Shehzad was still playing, We wouldnt have crossed 150.

— Junaid. (@MaiJunaid) September 13, 2017

Ahmed shehzad jesa player Allah kisi team ko na de. Ameen.

— ز نیرہ (@zunairayy) September 13, 2017

Another very good inning from Ahmed Shehzad, On a pitch like this where bating wasn't easy, He stayed there & play sensibly #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/4h1Wz838jy

— Ahmad ™?? (@iamAhmadhaseeb) September 13, 2017

What else did you guys expect from Ahmed shehzad after he hit 6?
Remember when he got unconscious just after a minor collision on pitch.

— Waleed Nasir (@waleednasir00) September 13, 2017