Napier, March 4 (IANS) An overall healthy batting performance helped Pakistan post their first 300 plus total of this World Cup when they put up 339/6 in a Pool B encounter against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the McLean Park here Wednesday.
Put in to bat, Pakistan received an early jolt when they lost opener Nasir Jamshed (4) in the fourth over. But thereon, Ahmed Shehzad (93) and Haris Sohail (70) struck a crucial second-wicket partnership of 160 runs to create a platform for their side to post a big total.
Shehzad, who has been out of form lately, scored his 11th One-Day International (ODI) half-century while Sohail hit his third fifty to set up the innings.
Though the duo got out in quick succession, Pakistan did not lose the momentum as the mantle was handled beautifully by Sohaib Maqsood (45) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (65), who scored his 41st half-century.
Towards the end, Shahid Afridi’s 7-ball 21 run cameo helped Pakistan go well past the 300-run mark in their fourth match of the tournament.
It was an average bowling performance by minnows UAE, except for left-arm pacer Manjula Guruge, who picked up the first four-wicket haul of his career, giving away 56 runs from his eight overs.
Brief scores: Pakistan 339/6 in 50 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 93, Haris Sohail 70, Mishbah-ul-Haq 65; Manjula Guruge 4/56) vs UAE.