Pakistan 184 (43 ov) Canada 138 (42.5 ov) Canada flirted with fame but it wasn't to be their night. No one could take ownership of the chase. Hansra seemed the man but he was thwarted by Shahid Afridi, who stamped his presence on the game with a fab spell.
Shahid Afridi's five-wicket spell, including two in two balls, jolted Canada's dream of beating Pakistan in a Group A encounter here on Thursday.
Canada's middle order basmen Zubin Surkari and Jimmy Hansra put up an unbeaten 50-run partnership to breathe life into Canada's chase of 184 against Pakistan to register a famous victory.
Pakistan bowlers continued to choke Canada for runs and chip away with wickets at regular intervals, with Afridi getting rid of Ashish Bagai (16).
Canada made the worst possible start to their chase of a possible famous victory over Pakistan as they lost two wickets in two overs after their bowlers restricted Pakistan to 184.
Opener Ruvindu Gunasekara was taken out by Umar Gul who needed a review to get the not-out decision by the on-field umpire overruled in his favour. On the other hand, Abdul Razaaq castled young Nitish Kumar.
Earlier, little-known fast bowler Harvir Baidwan grabbed three wickets and helped a spirited Canada bowl out Pakistan for just 184.
Baidwan (3-35) rocked the top order with superb display of swing bowling and then wrapped up the innings when he bowled No. 11 Saeed Ajmal as Pakistan was dismissed in 43 overs.
Canadian seamers used the overcast conditions to perfection after Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi made a surprise move and chose to bat first.
Top scorer Umar Akmal (48) and Misbah-ul-Haq (37) labored for 117 deliveries to put on 73 runs for the fifth wicket stand before both fell to burly legspinner Balaji Rao in quick succession.
The opening pair's poor run of form continued as fit-again fast bowler Henry Osinde had Mohammad Hafeez trapped lbw off a sharp delivery while Ahmed Shehzad played a half hearted uppish drive to Gordon Taylor at mid-on.
Younis Khan — who scored half centuries in Pakistan's previous victories over Kenya and Sri Lanka — and Kamran Akmal also found it difficult to negotiate the swing of Baidwan.
Pakistan slipped to 67-4 in the 16th over when Baidwan had Khan dismissed leg before wicket and Akmal played a rash cut off Rizwan Cheema to point.
Afridi (20 off 17 balls) tried to lift the tempo by pulling and lofting Baidwan for two boundaries in one over, before chasing a one-handed wide full toss from Cheema to give young Nitesh Kumar his second catch at point.
Pakistan lost its last four wickets for just three runs with Jimmy Hansra (2-23) chipping in with two of them by trapping Razzaq lbw. An edge from Wahab Riaz somehow managed to get stuck in between Rao's legs in the lone slip after the ball slipped out of his hands.
Canada had to leave out John Davison at the last moment after he pulled a muscle in his right leg in the warmup.
Pakistan is also without its star fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar and injured leftarm spinner Abdur Rehman.
Offspinner Ajmal and fast bowler Riaz made their World Cup debuts in place of Akhtar and Rehman.
In the absence of Akhtar, Canada could fancy its first victory after heavy defeats against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and the second upset of the tournament. Ireland stunned England in a three-wicket victory in Group B on Wednesday when it chased down 328-run target.
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