Twitter Reactions: Babar's 86, Malik's cameo lifts Pakistan to 197/5

Babar Azam’s 54-ball 86 has helped Pakistan set up a competitive score of 197/5, just three runs short of 200. The Pakistan fans got their money’s worth, as the top order batsman scored 10 boundaries and two sixes. Clearly, it has been a night to remember and we still have World XI’s reply left.

Morne Morkel provided an early strike for the World XI side, by dismissing dangerous Fakhar Zaman for 8 runs in the very first over. Ahmed Shehzad and Babar then went on to stitch a 122 run partnership in quick time. Shehzad made 39 before the humid climate got the better of him, and he went back to the pavilion, becoming a victim to all-rounder Ben Cutting. Along with Morkel, the all-rounder bowled very well and kept the run flow under control.

Solid batting by Pakistan

Shoaib Malik provided some big strikes towards the end of the innings, and played a good solid cameo. The veteran scored 38 runs off just two balls; scoring 2 sixes and 4 fours. Babar missed out on becoming the highest individual scorer for Pakistan in T20I, as he was caught by David Miller off the bowling of Imran Tahir. Former skipper Misbah Ul Haq’s 87 in the year 2008 is at the top.

Big final over

Morkel ended his 4 overs for 1/32, while spinner Tahir, who bowled cleverly, changing his length consistently, had figures of 1/34. Grant Elliott also rolled his arm but went wicketless. Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed missed out on scoring a biggie, and went back with single digit. Debutant Faheem Ashraf came in to bat in the last over but could not open his account. Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera was expensive in the last over, and he went for 51 runs in his four overs. All-rounder Imad Wasim smacked two sixes in the last over, before Malik whooped one to get Pakistan to a massive total.  Let’s check out the best tweets from the 1st innings:

Pakistan

vs Pace
– 163 runs
– 16 overs
– 10.18 RPO
– DB% 21.6%
– BB% 23.9%

vs Spin
– 34 runs
– 4 overs
– 8.5 RPO
– DB% 20%
– BB% 8.3%

— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) September 12, 2017

Kohli wali beard pic.twitter.com/z3EDXakhNc

— Ghumman (@Emclub7) September 12, 2017

Babar Azam's 86 leads the way as Pakistan post 197/5 in the 1st T20I against the World XI in Lahore. Will it be a winning total? #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/NUWKbxeDE9

— ICC (@ICC) September 12, 2017

Give pakistani players more matches at home and they will become better player than kohli and amla. Look at babar azam

— Saddam (@saddamaldo) September 12, 2017

babar azam is scoring almost all the runs, why the fuck ahmad shahzad is sweating?

— Ali (@AleyFarooq) September 12, 2017

Babar Azam ruled all the Bar-e-azams…

(For no urdu: Bar-e-azam means continents) pic.twitter.com/xqgiNMkd2H

— Patari (@patarimusic) September 12, 2017

Babar azam is the type of cousin that you always fear about. Who always tops while you're struggling for your admission. I feel for akmals.

— Waleed Nasir (@waleednasir00) September 12, 2017

Babar Azam is one of the most talented players Pakistan has come across in the last few years. Has the potential to be a superstar batsman.

— Zeeshan Masih (@MrZeeshanMasih) September 12, 2017

I will have ultimate respect for babar azam if he somehow gets shehzad ran out….???

— Saniii_Asad (@Saniaaaasssm) September 12, 2017

Hoping for a Babar Azam century. Enough overs to do it. Come on Babar! #CricketKiHalaLala

— Usama Mir (@iamusamamir) September 12, 2017

Babar Azam playing at a strike rate above 100 ye pitch 250+ wali hai phir

— Ali Javed (@AliJaved_) September 12, 2017

The highest T20i scores for Pakistan:
111* @iamAhmadshahzad ,
98* Ahmed Shehzad,
94 @Umar96Akmal ,
87* Misbah,
86 Hafeez,
86 BABAR AZAM.

— Shahzad Tirmizi Syed (@shahzadtirmizi) September 12, 2017

Babar, bohat fit khaila ap nay. we salute you. it wasn't easy playing with Ahmed Shehzad pic.twitter.com/t5SRR4B7bR

— Patari (@patarimusic) September 12, 2017

the bowler who gets Ahmed shehzad's wicket will get tamga-e-khidmat-e-insaaniyat

— A (@_dobby10) September 12, 2017

There is no reason to include Ahmed Shehzad in T 20 match at all.

— Javed Iqbal Cheema (@CheemaIqbal) September 12, 2017

Ahmed Shehzad: Attention he ni mil ri thi tw socha out ho jaoon :p pic.twitter.com/4fcRlULxDh

— Sadia A. (@DrSadiaA) September 12, 2017

we after seeing Ahmed Shehzad on the pitch for too many overs #PakvWXI pic.twitter.com/zHmC1jrOoM

— Patari (@patarimusic) September 12, 2017

Ahmed Shehzad should try his luck in Bollywood instead of Cricket.

— HK. (@ihaffsah) September 12, 2017