Lahore: The third and last T20 match of the Independence Cup series has gained the status of a ‘finale’ as both the finalists’ teams aim to strike a win in the mega event.

The event has its own significance as the World XI is a galaxy of top-notch cricketers drawn from seven countries, and the Pakistan team is the winner of the Champions Trophy. The clash between the two teams has been dubbed as a thrilling final.

The Pakistani side will be facing a tough challenge from best players of the different countries, and the World XI on the other hand will be eager to beat the home side to salvage its pride and to get the title.

Both the rival captains have expressed their resolve to win the third and the last match of the series, which stands locked at 1-1 after the home side beat the World XI by 20 runs in the opener. The touring side won the following tie by seven wickets in front of a full house at the Gaddafi Stadium.

“It is a very important match for us and we will be going all out to win as the series is levelled at 1-1 and the match has become equally important for the both sides to claim the series title,” said Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmad while talking to APP. He said the team must show consistency, which will be only possible when all the players exhibit their best game.

“I have urged my fellow colleagues to give their 100 per cent and [they] should not repeat the errors they committed in the second match,” he added.

Sarfraz asked the team members to lift the level of their overall game, specially fielding, to save runs, and called upon the Pakistan pace battery to bowl with more vigour and accuracy to shatter the confidence of the opponents’ experienced batting line-up.

“Beating the World XI is a tough task, but we are in the right mindset to achieve this objective the way we did in the opening match of the series,” he said.

World XI captain Faf du Plessis said: “We will playing the last game with a similar mind set [as the second game] to achieve our set goals.

“It is not going to be easy at all for us as Pakistan team has the added advantage of home ground and crowd and it has also the ability to fight back due to some good players in the side and we have to overcome all these challenges,” he added.

He said World XI comprises players from different countries and they took time to gel like a team and he is confident that team will be giving a good show in the last match.

He said he and his teammates are enjoying playing cricket in Pakistan and they are very happy to be here.

“Pakistani people are very loving and we received big encouragement and support from them in the two matches and we look forward to similar gesture from them in the last match as well,” he said.

World XI beat Pakistan by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 international to level the three-match series at 1-1 at Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium on Wednesday.

Hashim Amla (72) and Thisara Perera (47) batted with aggression to help the visitors reach a 175-run target in 19.5 overs to set up an intriguing final match on Friday.

Pakistan had scored 174-6 in their 20 overs.

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.

Sri Lankan paceman Perera and West Indian spinner Samuel Badree claimed two wickets apiece for the World XI.