SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: England's Nick Knight is clean bowled for one run by Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar yesterday.

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates, (Reuters) - IJAZ Ahmed blasted 137 off 130 balls to send England reeling and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar dealt the knockout punch as Pakistan won the opening Sharjah Cup match by 90 runs yesterday.

Ijaz propelled Pakistan to a record 323 for five in their 50 overs, beating the previous highest limited overs total against England of 313 for six by West Indies at Kingstown, St Vincent, in 1994.

Shoaib effectively put paid to England's victory hopes with an incisive new-ball burst in which he dispatched Nick Knight (1), captain Alec Stewart (18) and Graham Thorpe (18).

That reduced England to 53 for three in the 10th over and despite thunderous innings from Graeme Hick (65) and debutant Andrew Flintoff (50), England were bowled out for 233 in 45.5 overs.

Hick and Flintoff put on 94 for the fifth wicket off 104 balls before England's last six wickets tumbled for 48.

Hick made his runs off 96 balls, hitting six fours, while Flintoff reached his half-century in 50 deliveries, with two fours and four sixes.

Hick and Flintoff fell to off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to end any lingering prospect of a win against the odds.

Saqlain finished with three for 23, Shoaib took three for 42 and Shahid Afridi, who worked through the lower order with his leg spin, ended with three for 53.

Earlier, Ijaz reached three figures off 102 deliveries as Pakistan made the most of a bland pitch in the day-night game.

Opener Afridi set the tone with a typically aggressive 41, containing three fours and a six, after the early fall of Saeed Anwar (17).

Ijaz, who struck 12 fours and one six, consolidated in a third-wicket partnership of 145 with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who hit 59 off 64 balls.

Inzamam batted in comparatively composed style, pacing his innings with singles and twos mainly and hitting only three fours.