<strong>Patriot Report</strong> Pakistan improved their chances of qualification to the quarter-finals stage with a convincing win against UAE. Having put into bat after losing the toss, Pakistan suffered an early loss in the shape of misfiring Nasir Jamshed. However opener Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail put together a 160 runs second wicket partnership to build a solid platform. Haris and Shehzad both went in quick succession after scoring (70) and (93) runs respectively. Pakistan took the attack to the UAE bowlers towards the end of the innings, with Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah ul Haq, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi all contributing with quick fired knocks helping Pakistan to a healthy total of 339, UAE never threatened to achieve the target after losing both openers early on to Sohail Khan. Pakistan were also left to sweat as pace bowler Irfan went of injured after bowling just three overs. UAE could only get to 210 in the allotted fifty overs giving Pakistan a 129 runs win. <strong>Nasir flounders again</strong> Opener Nasir Jamshed once again frustrated fans, despite posting his highest score of 4 in the world cup. The opener’s previous two innings had resulted in score of 0 and 1. His last 10 innings read: 4, 1, 0, 0, 30, 2, 24, 1, 0, and 38. Nasir has also been heavily criticized for his poor fielding. <strong>Afridi joins the 8000 club</strong> Shahid Afridi joined the exclusive 8000 runs club with his 21 runs knock. Afridi became the only fourth Pakistani player to achieve the feat. The other three Pakistani batsmen to achieve the record are Inazamam ul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Saeed Anwar. Afridi is also only the second player in ODI cricket to have completed the double of 8000 runs and 300 wickets. The all-rounder is now just five wickets away from becoming the only player in ODI history to have taken 400 wickets and score 8000 runs.
