Pakistan thrash UAE by 129 runs

Pakistan 339/6 (50.0 ov), United Arab Emirates 210/8 (50.0 ov)

The Pakistan team have won the match against the United Arab Emirates by 129 runs at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand. The UAE team have posted 210  in 50 overs losing eight wickets in the must-win match against Pakistan.

Rahat Ali dismissed Amjad Ali while Sohail took the wickets of Berenger and Chandran. Maqsood sent Khurram back to the pavilion at 43. Afridi dismissed Anwar and Mustafa, while Riaz stopped Patil and Javed.

Pakistan team have scored 339, their highest total of the tournament, in 50 overs losing six wickets.

Guruge dismissed the wickets of Jamshed, Maqsood, Misbah and Akmal while Shehzad was run out for 93. Mohammad Naveed sent Sohail back to the pavilion at 70 during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Pakistan and the UAE.

Earlier in the day, Mohamed Tauqir, the UAE captain, won the toss and inserted Pakistan in Napier.

UAE named the same XI that was thrashed by India, and the decision to bowl first on a pitch that is usually full of runs might be interpreted as a reaction to that game. UAE were bowled out for just 102 in Perth.

The match is effectively a must-win encounter for the two teams propping up the Group B table. Pakistan have won only once in their first three fixtures and UAE remain winless.

Pakistan kept faith with the same XI that defeated Zimbabwe, meaning no recall for legspinner Yasir Shah or specialist wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

That meant Nasir Jamshed had another opportunity to impress after a wretched start to the tournament. With one run in two innings and some less-than-athletic fielding, he may well require a strong performance to see off the challenge from Safaraz, who is also pushing to take the gloves from Umar Akmal.

Despite warm weather, there was a disappointing crowd of perhaps 250 at McLean Park for the start of the game.

Pakistan: 1 Nasir Jamshed, 2 Ahmed Shehzad, 3 Haris Sohail, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Umar Akmal (wk), 6 Shahid Afridi, 7 Sohaib Maqsood, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Sohail Khan, 10 Rahat Ali, 11 Mohammad Irfan

UAE: 1 Amjad Ali, 2 Andri Berenger, 3 Krishna Chandran, 4 Khurram Khan, 5 Swapnil Patil (wk), 6 Shaiman Anwar, 7 Rohan Mustafa, 8 Amjad Javed, 9 Mohammad Naveed, 10 Mohammad Tauqir (capt), 11 Manjula Guruge

Source: Dhaka Tribune