RESULT
1st T20I (N), Lahore, September 12, 2017, Independence Cup
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(20 ov, T:198) 177/7

Pakistan won by 20 runs

Player Of The Match
86 (52)
babar-azam
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Full commentary
end of over 2013 runs • 1 wicket
ICC: 177/7CRR: 8.85 
Daren Sammy29 (16b 1x4 3x6)
Ben Cutting0 (0b)
Hasan Ali 4-0-44-0
Rumman Raees 3-0-37-2

10.45pm: That's it for tonight, a triumphant return home for Pakistan, and a feast for their fans at the Gaddafi. We'll bring you the second T20I tomorrow, and the third game on Friday. Do tune in for that. Until then, good night!

Sarfraz Ahmed: "It was a very important match, after Champions Trophy. No praise is too high for our players, especially Babar Azam, and the way Ahmed Shehzad played, and the way Shoaib Malik and Imad Wasim finished the innings. We've got some very good players, which is why the selection committee is giving them a lot of opportunities. Our fitness is getting better day after day, and the humidity today was a test of it, and we passed it."

Faf du Plessis: "It was a good game, I thought Pakistan played exceptionally well. I thought it was a 180 wicket, so maybe we gave away 20 runs too many. Our bowling was possibly one-dimensional. They had a lot of variety, spinners, left-arm, right-arm. It was a great occasion to play here, and as soon as we walked into the field, it was just a normal game. I needed to get a 50 or 60 for us to win. Quick turnaround, I don't think I've ever played two T20s in two days. Great to play in front of the Pakistani fans, hopefully next two games we can get a full house."

Babar Azam is the Player of the Match. "There was no pressure. It was just a slow wicket, so I thought I'll take my time and play my natural game. Once I got a partnership with Ahmed bhai, I just wanted to take it as far as I could."

There's a Giggly Boom Boom shot of the match award, and it's gone to Hashim Amla. Has there been a greater name for an award in the history of awards?

Talha Hameed: "STATS: Total of Four T20Is have been played in Pakistan, Pakistan have won all Four. Brilliant!"

10.20pm Pakistan's first home international in two years, and they've won it comfortably. World XI were chasing the game right through their innings, and maybe they didn't get their batting order right, but none of that really matters now, does it? Think about everyone in the stands right now, and just the fact that they were able to watch their own team, in the flesh, after so long. And today they've got to watch some excellent performances from their players, none better than a brilliant 86 from Lahore's very own Babar Azam. There was also some vintage late hitting from Shoaib Malik, some typically un-hittable slow left-arm swerve from Imad Wasim, ripping legbreaks and googlies from Shadab Khan, and a last over full of yorkers from Hasan Ali.

19.6
4
Hasan Ali to Sammy, FOUR runs

another yorker, five in a row to finish. Sammy swings hard, and gets a thick inside-edge that runs away for an inconsequential boundary to fine leg

19.5
1W
Hasan Ali to Sammy, 1 run, OUT

another yorker, close to off stump, dug out towards deep point. They belatedly decide to take a single, and that only results in a run-out at the bowler's end

Thisara Perera run out (Rumman Raees/Hasan Ali) 17 (11b 3x4 0x6) SR: 154.54
19.4
1
Hasan Ali to Perera, 1 run

in the blockhole on off stump, makes himself room and steers towards backward point

19.3
1
Hasan Ali to Sammy, 1 run

off-stump yorker this time, squeezed down to long-off

19.2
Hasan Ali to Sammy, no run

bam. Now Hasan nails the yorker, Right up at the batsman's feet, and he sweeps him off his feet too. Just about digs it out, gets his front leg out of the way of some late inswing, and falls to the floor while doing so. Applauds the bowler too

19.1
6
Hasan Ali to Sammy, SIX runs

he certainly can hit the first ball for six. Short ball, angling into the body, but he's opened up almost in expectation, and he pulls it away over the backward square leg boundary

34 off the last over. Five sixes and a four. Can Sammy manage that?

end of over 1913 runs
ICC: 164/6CRR: 8.63 RRR: 34.00
Daren Sammy17 (11b 2x6)
Thisara Perera16 (10b 3x4)
Rumman Raees 3-0-37-2
Hasan Ali 3-0-31-0
18.6
1
Raees to Sammy, 1 run

yorker, and a big lbw appeal as Sammy plays all around it, but the angle's probably taking it past off stump

18.5
6
Raees to Sammy, SIX runs

this one he really connects. Length ball on off stump, and he clears his front leg and clears long-on just as easily

18.4
Raees to Sammy, no run

short now, not too much width, jumps to slash it away but can only manage an inside-edge down to the keeper

18.3
6
Raees to Sammy, SIX runs

slower length ball, and this time Sammy slogs it away over the leaping deep midwicket player. The length allowed him to hit it over the top, and the short boundaries enabled him to hit it for six

18.2
Raees to Sammy, no run

and now the slower bouncer. Sammy was in no position to play it - and he reacts very late to duck his head underneath

18.1
Raees to Sammy, no run

nice slower ball, full, slanting away from off stump. Looks for the slog over mid-on or midwicket, doesn't connect

Rumman.

Ajay Kamath: "Why on earth is Cutting not...well.... cutting and pulling and lofting?"

end of over 183 runs
ICC: 151/6CRR: 8.38 RRR: 23.50
Daren Sammy4 (5b)
Thisara Perera16 (10b 3x4)
Hasan Ali 3-0-31-0
Sohail Khan 4-0-28-2
17.6
1
Hasan Ali to Sammy, 1 run

full on off stump, nearly in the blockhole, jabbed hard to long-off

17.5
Hasan Ali to Sammy, no run

full this time, wide outside off, and Sammy swings and misses, going for the big slap through the off side

17.4
1
Hasan Ali to Perera, 1 run

short ball, on the stumps this time. Another attempted pull, only manages an inside-edge down to short fine leg

17.3
Hasan Ali to Perera, no run

and again. Slower short ball, doesn't get up as high as the previous one, and another swing and miss

17.2
Hasan Ali to Perera, no run

slower bouncer, angling across Perera, and he looks for the pull but swings too early and can't connect

17.1
1
Hasan Ali to Sammy, 1 run

shortish on off stump, whipped to deep midwicket

50 off the last three overs. Here's Hasan Ali.

end of over 179 runs • 1 wicket
ICC: 148/6CRR: 8.70 RRR: 16.66
Daren Sammy2 (2b)
Thisara Perera15 (7b 3x4)
Sohail Khan 4-0-28-2
Rumman Raees 2-0-24-2
16.6
1
Sohail Khan to Sammy, 1 run

back of a length on off stump, swiped away to deep midwicket

16.5
1
Sohail Khan to Perera, 1 run

slower ball, back of a length on off stump, swats it to long-on on the bounce

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