Tamim scores 23 as World XI square T20I series

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera hit a towering six off the penultimate ball to steer the World XI to a thrilling seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the second T20 Wednesday. Perera made a whirlwind 19-ball 47 not out with five sixes, while Hashim Amla finished not out 72 off 55 balls to help the World XI overhaul a 175-run target and level the three-match series 1-1 before a packed Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. That left the series intriguingly placed with the final match on Friday, also in Lahore. Pakistan had registered a 20-run win in Tuesday's first match, which marked the return of international cricket to Pakistan.

World XI skipper @faf1307 was delighted to take the #PAKvWXI series into a decider and praised @amlahash for his brilliant innings. pic.twitter.com/JItwaOq7C6

— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2017

Left-hander Perera went on a rampage as the visitor needed 33 off the last two overs, smashing two sixes off the 19th over bowled by Sohail Khan before sealing the match in the last over. Amla, who scored his seventh T20I half-century, was the steadier of the two, with two sixes and five fours as he helped Perera add 69 runs for the fourth wicket off just 35 balls. That partnership lifted the World XI after they lost Tamim Iqbal (23), Tim Paine (10) and skipper Faf du Plessis (20). Pakistan had scored 174-6 in their 20 overs.

? Pakistan and the World XI pose for a photo together ahead of tonight's 2nd T20I #PAKvWXI pic.twitter.com/r0rXZ0x1n3

— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2017

Babar Azam (45), Ahmed Shehzad (43) and Shoaib Malik (39) had good starts but none of them went on to score big, as Pakistan found it tough going on a slow and low pitch after winning the toss. Opener Fakhar Zaman fell for 21 in the fifth over before Shehzad and Azam steadied the innings with a 59-run stand for the second wicket. Malik hit two sixes in the last over before holing out off the last delivery of the innings.

Congratulations to @realshoaibmalik on becoming the top run scorer in T20Is for Pakistan! #PAKvWXI #howzstat pic.twitter.com/Vq3jUfc2VX

— ICC (@ICC) September 13, 2017

During his 23-ball knock Malik became the leading run scorer for Pakistan T20I cricket, overhauling Umar Akmal's aggregate of 1,690 runs in 88 matches by two runs. He now has 1,692 in 88 matches. Perera (2-23) and West Indian spinner Badree (2-31) were the main wicket takers for the visitor. BRIEF SCORE World XI 175/3 in 19.5 overs (Amla 72*, Tamim 23) beat Pakistan 174/6 in 20 overs (Babar 45, Shehzad 43) by seven wickets