Cricket World Cup: Pakistan cruise past United Arab Emirates at McLean Park in Napier

PAKISTAN got vaulable time in the middle ahead of their crunch game with South Africa this weekend as their batsmen orchestrated the destruction of UAE.

Pakistan warm up for Proteas with UAE win

PAKISTAN have beaten United Arab Emirates by 129 runs in their Cricket World Cup match in Napier.

The target of 340 always looked out of UAE’s reach in the day-nighter, although Shaiman Anwar produced a notable knock before holing out for 62.

It was Anwar’s third half-century in his four World Cup innings, which included a maiden ODI ton against Ireland in Brisbane last week.

MATCH CENTRE: CLICK HERE FOR FULL SCORECARD AND EXTENSIVE STATS

Pakistan's Ahmad Shahzad plays a pull shot while batting against the United Arab Emirates.

The 35-year-old right-hander has now taken his tournament aggregate to 270 runs, making him the competition’s highest run-getter.

He got good support from Khurram Khan with 43, before Amjad Javed produced some late power hitting.

Javed’s 40 off 33 balls included 21 runs from one Sohail Khan over before the UAE ended on 8-210.

The second half of the contest drifted at times, as Pakistan took a conservative approach in the field despite the improbability of a UAE upset.

There were also injury concerns over giant paceman Mohammad Irfan, who managed just three overs before going off for treatment. Having been sent in to bat, Pakistan gave themselves some batting practice ahead of their crunch clash with South Africa in Auckland on Saturday, finishing on 6-339.

Pakistan captain Misbah Ul Haq played some big shots late in the innings.

They made a slow start and had an early hiccup, Nasir Jamshed being dismissed from a pull shot for the third time in four innings.

Fellow opener Ahmed Shehzad should have gone cheaply as well, but survived two dropped catches.

Shehzad and Haris Sohail then consolidated before building a big partnership.

With the stand at 160, Sohail fell for 70, caught as he went for the big hit.

Shehzad followed seven balls later, run out for 93 after he dived to make his ground, only for the toe of his bat to bounce above the crease.

Sohaib Maqsood and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq got the Pakistan innings back on track.

Maqsood made 45, while Misbah went in the penultimate over for 65, caught as he tried to clear the long-on boundary.

Misbah’s dismissal meant a hat-trick opportunity for left-arm seamer Manjula Guruge, who wasn’t able to convert, but ended with match-best figures of 4-56 from his eight overs.

Shahid Afridi threw his bat at the ball at the end, smashing 21 off seven deliveries, and passing 8000 ODI runs.

Originally published as Cricket World Cup: Pakistan cruise past United Arab Emirates at McLean Park in Napier