KARACHI, Oct 21: Pakistan All Star XI beat International World XI by six wickets to complete 2-0 sweep of the World XI A.O. Trophy Twenty20 series at the National Stadium on Sunday evening.

Chasing a modest 143-run target, All Star XI — who went into the game without Shahid Afridi, Anwar Ali, Fawad Alam, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmed and Wahab Riaz — quickly worked towards bagging the second match when openers Imran Nazir and Shahzaib Hasan put on an 87-run partnership in 7.2 overs.

The first two balls of the opening over were sixes hit by Man-of-the-Match Imran. He scored 53 with the help of four fours and five sixes while facing 33 balls and Shahzaib scored 39 off 19 balls while hitting four fours and three sixes.

From there onwards, the road to victory became fairly easy and it didn’t even matter when Umar Akmal was dismissed for just six when he was stumped by Mohammad Shahzad off spinner Steven Taylor, who also the wickets of Imran and skipper Shoaib Malik (13).

Asad Shafiq (23) and Faisal Iqbal (3) wrapped up the match for All Star XI in the 17th over.

Earlier, All Star XI restricted International World XI to 142-9 after Malik won the toss.

The match began with a debatable decision by umpire Saleem Badar when Sanath Jayasuriya was given out LBW for a second-ball duck off Sohail Khan in the opening over.

Saeed bin Nasir, a Pakistan first-class cricketer who was included in the World XI as a guest player, went next for seven when he was caught by Malik off Tabish Khan.

The International World XI lost their third wicket when Umar Akmal ran out Ricardo Powell (3). Taylor was out LBW in the same over, giving Tabish his second wicket. The match picked up a bit of pace after Mohammad Shahzad came out and hit a six and four. But then he was sent back by slow left-armer Faraz Ahmed Khan in the 10th over.

Opener Andre Seymore (25) and Andre Nel (0) then departed off successive deliveries in the 12th over bowled by Faraz.

Thandi Tshabalala and Shapoor Zadran also went quickly before the last pair of Adam Sanford and Nantie Hayward put on 57 in 26 balls to give their side a respectable score on the board.

Hayward blasted a quickfire 42 off only 16 balls with three fours and four sixes. Sanford made run-a-ball 14, hitting one four and one six.

The crowd at the conclusion of the match was treated to delightful fireworks.

Summarised scores: INTERNATIONAL WORLD XI 142-9 in 20 overs (M. Hayward 42 not out, A.J. Seymore 25; Faraz Ahmed Khan 3-20, Tabish Khan 2-19); PAKISTAN ALL STAR XI 145-4 in 16.4 overs (Imran Nazir 53, Shahzaib Hasan 39, Asad Shafiq 23 not out; S.R. Taylor 3-22).

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