Shehzad shines for Pakistan

NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 04: Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan drives the ball away for four runs during the 2015 ICC Cricket World CUp match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates at McLean Park on March 4, 2015 in Napier, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

NAPIER, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 04: Ahmed Shehzad of Pakistan drives the ball away for four runs during the 2015 ICC Cricket World CUp match between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates at McLean Park on March 4, 2015 in Napier, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Published Mar 4, 2015

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Napier - Ahmed Shehzad was run out agonisingly close to his seventh one-day international century as Pakistan made 339 for six in their World Cup Pool B clash against UAE at McLean Park on Wednesday.

The right-handed opener, who looked desperately out of touch early in his innings, managed to somehow push, flick and caress his way to 93 as he and Haris Sohail put on 160 runs for the second wicket.

Shehzad was then run out when his bat bounced up as he dived for the crease while completing a second run off Mohammad Naveed with Shaiman Anwar's low flat throw catching the batsman out.

The 23-year-old Shehzad, who had been dropped twice early in his innings, disconsolately trudged off having been in sight of the first century by a Pakistani batsman at the 2015 World Cup.

He had opened the tournament with 47 against India, but scored one and a duck in his last two innings. He also had innings of two and five in Pakistan's final warmup matches.

Sohail scored 70 runs in the partnership with Shehzad before he fell during the batting power-play, which Pakistan had taken at the 30th over.

Sohaib Maqsood (45) and Misbah ul-Haq (65) then combined for a 75-run partnership as Pakistan increased the tempo with the captain falling in the 49th over, as Manjula Guruge (4-56) took two wickets in two balls.

UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir had chosen to field after winning the toss, going against conventional wisdom on the ground considered the best batting wicket in New Zealand.

Pakistan's batsmen, however, made slow progress against a non-threatening UAE attack before the final few overs.

The 1992 champions need to win the match to remain in contention for the quarter-finals after losing their first two games of the tournament and then struggling to beat Zimbabwe.

Reuters

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