Pakistan rediscovered some batting form, albeit against an ordinary United Arab Emirates bowling attack at McLean Park today.
Having been sent in, Pakistan reached 339 for six as the UAE bowlers wilted late on. Opener Ahmed Shehzad top scored with 93, but it was far from his best performance.
He wasdropped twice, on eight and 11, once above fielder Khurram Khan's head at deep mid on and once, straightforward to Andri Berenger at point.
However Shehzad produced some handsome strokes the longer his innings lasted.
He shared a 160-run stand for the second wicket with lefthander Haris Sohail, with Sohail hitting 70 off 83 balls. The early loss of opener Nasir Jamshed for four continued a grim run of form with his last four scores being 0, 0, 1 and 4.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq struck 65 off 49 balls, sharing a rapid 75-run stand in 53 balls with Sohaib Maqsood, who made 45 in 31 balls while Shahid Afridi came in near the end and found time to hit 21 in seven balls.
Mohammad Naveed, a bustling seamer, was the pick of the UAE attack. His first nine overs produced one for 31 before 19 were taken off his last. By contrast, left armer Manjula Guruge, took four for 56 off eight overs, was on a hat-trick at one point, but was flattered by his figures.
Some of the UAE fielding was embarrassing. They have a mountain to climb with the bat as Pakistan look to improve their group A position in the World Cup.
