New-look Pakistan rode on halfcenturies from Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq to pile up 278 for 7 from 50 overs against Zimbabwe in the opening match of the four-nation Sharjah Cup here on Thursday.

Younis hit 67 and Razzaq a belligerent unbeaten 76 off 53 balls after Pakistan, who elected to take first strike on the slow wicket, were reduced to 69 for four by the 19th over.

Razzaq smashed seven sixes and two boundaries as Pakistan hammered 96 runs in the last 10 overs to set Zimbabwe a challenging target of 5.6 runs an over under lights.

Newly-appointed captain Rashid Latif chipped in with 34 during a sixthwicket stand of 58 with Younis.

Pakistan took the field without eight senior players, including veterans Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who were sacked following a dismal World Cup last month where they were knocked out in the first round.

Pakistan's first outing with the experimental side began disastrously as Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak removed openers Taufiq Umer and debutant Mohammad Hafeez in his first spell.

Naved Latif and Yousuf Youhana also fell cheaply and it was left to Younis to steer his side out of trouble and set the stage for Razzaq's onslaught.

Razzaq plundered 24 runs in one over from Sean Ervine, including three sixes, and 23 in the final over bowled by Douglas Hondo.

World Cup semifinalists Sri Lanka and Kenya are the other two teams in the fray in the eight-day tournament, the first international event since the World Cup ended in South Africa on March 23. SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard of the Pakistan innings in the opening match of the four-nation Sharjah Cup against Zimbabwe on

Thursday:

PAKISTAN

Taufiq Umer b Streak 16

Hafeez c Taibu b Streak 12

N Latif b Blignaut 3

Youhana c Taibu b Ervine 17

Younis Khan c Ervine b Blignaut 67

Malik run out 13

R Latif run out 34

Razzaq not out 76

Sami not out 11

Extras: (lb-4, w-24, nb-1) 29

Total: (For seven wkts in 50 overs) 278

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-38, 3-50, 4-69, 5

101, 6-159, 7-203.

Bowler O M R W

Streak 10 1 31 2

Blignaut 10 0 50 2

Hondo 10 0 60 0

Ervine 4 0 36 1

Marillier 7 0 43 0

Flower 4 0 27 0

Rennie 5 0 27 0

Toss: Pakistan

ZIMBABWE: Heath Streak (capt), Craig Wishart, Travis Friend, Dion Ebrahim, Douglas Hondo, Tatenda Taibu, Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie, Douglas Marillier, Sean Ervine, Andy Blignaut.

Umpires: Avi Jayaprakash (IND) and Billy Doctrove (WIS)

TV umpire: Kevan Barbour (RSA) Match referee: Ahmed Ebrahim (ZIM)