Pakistan's top order finally showed up at the Cricket World Cup, with Ahmed Shehzad and Haris Sohail starring in their team's 129-run win over United Arab Emirates.

In their first three World Cup matches, Pakistan lost early wickets as they were beaten by India and the West Indies and edged past Zimbabwe, but Shehzad (93) and Haris (70) helped Misbah-ul-Haq's side to 339-6 in Napier on Wednesday.

Pakistan did not have it all their own way at McLean Park, though, as UAE fought back from 25-3 in the 10th over to post 210-8 from their 50 overs.

Misbah's men secured two points, however, and the Pakistan skipper would have been pleased as four of his top five produced impressive innings.

Against India, Pakistan had slumped to 11-1 in the fourth over and lost three wickets in the space of two runs in the middle order.

The West Indies had Pakistan 1-4 in the fourth over, while Misbah's side slumped to 2-4 against Zimbabwe.

But after Nasir Jamshed was dismissed for just four in the fourth over on Wednesday, Shehzad and Haris put on 160 for the second wicket.

They were followed by Sohaib Maqsood (45) and Misbah (65).

Shahid Afridi added 21 off just seven deliveries to reach 8,000 career runs in one-day internationals as Pakistan set UAE a massive 340 to win.

Manjula Guruge impressed with the ball - the UAE paceman finishing with figures of 4-56 off eight overs.

Pakistan started well with the ball and, after Sohail Khan dismissed Krishna Chandran, UAE looked in trouble, only for Khurram Khan to combine with in-form batsman Shaiman Anwar to steer the Gulf nation past 100.

Khan reached 43 before he was caught by Wahab Riaz off Maqsood's bowling, while Anwar (62) notched his third half-century of the tournament, having scored 67 against Zimbabwe and 106 versus Ireland.

Although UAE's run-rate never gave them a serious chance of reeling in Pakistan's total, their stubbornness frustrated Misbah's side.

Two wickets in an over from Afridi - Anwar and Rohan Mustafa - saw UAE stumble to 140-6 but they kept digging in, as Pakistan were forced to bowl all 50 overs before they could claim a hard-fought victory.