After flooring Pakistan for just 184 runs in 43 overs, Canada must have been sniffing an upset win at 104-3 needing 81 from 99 balls to slap Pakistan with their first loss of the tournament.

But then Afridi began yet another demolition job. He ripped through the Canadian batting line-up, collecting four wickets from 11 balls to ensure that Pakistan will finish the day at the top of Pool A with three wins from three matches. They won by 46 runs after bowling out Canada for 138 in 42.5 overs.

But the game wasn’t as easy as the result might suggest.

Without Afridi’s heroics, it could have been a different story for Pakistanis.

The Pakistan captain, who took five wickets against Kenya and four against Sri Lanka, took the vital wicket of Jimmy Hansra at a time when the Ludhiana-born all-rounder was steering his team towards victory. Hansra followed his 2-23 with a 75-ball 43 that included four fours and a six. It was an innings that threatened to take the match away from Pakistan.

Afridi, who also scalped Canada captain Ashish Bagai (16) was then almost unplayable as he got rid of Rizwan Cheema (4), Harvir Baidwan (0) and Tyson Gordon (9) before running Balaji Rao (1) run out with a sharp throw.

The Flamboyant all-rounder, who is the tournament’s top wicket-taker with 14 victims, finished with 5-23 and in the end saved the day for his team but not before Pakistan chose arguably the weakest team at World Cup 2011 to show their weak and vulnerable side.

Going into what was expected to be a Pool A mismatch, Pakistan were brimming with confidence and looking set for a big win over the North Americans following impressive victories against Kenya and Sri Lanka.

But they were bowled out for just 184 by a side that had even lost against fellow underdogs Zimbabwe by 175 runs earlier this week.

Pakistan, who opted to bat first in overcast conditions, never really managed to pick themselves up after losing their openers cheaply.

Mohammad Hafeez (11) was the first to go, falling to Henry Osinde. He challenged the umpire decision after being hit on the pad above the knee roll in front of leg and middle stump. But Hawk eye suggested it would have clipped the top of the leg stump.

Ahmed Shehzad continued his poor form, becoming Baidwan’s first wicket while trying to go for a big one only to be caught at mid-on. Pakistan were 48-2 and looked towards Younis Khan to save them. But the former Pakistan captain, with fifties from his last two outings, didn’t last long and was trapped lbw by Baidwan.

Kamran Akmal played a sedate 38-ball knock for his 16 but threw away his wicket, attempting a cut Rizwan Cheema only to hit it straight to Nitish Kumar at backward point. Pakistan were now in trouble at 67-4 in 15.3 overs.

But as usual Misbah was there to steady the ship. He put on 73 off 117 balls with Umar Akmal, with the younger partner playing a dominant role in the fifth-wicket stand.

Umar hit four delightful hits to the fence but fell in a bid to step on the gas. He was deceived by a straighter one from the seasoned Balaji that caught him plumb in front of the middle stump. His 48 came off 68 balls.

Balaji returned to scalp Misbah in the 39th over. The Pakistan vice-captain chased one going way down legside only to nick it and Ashish Bagai gloved it smartly. Pakistan were now 6-165 and needed skipper Afridi to play a big one. But Afridi lost his wicket, swinging wildly at a juicy full toss and was caught at backward point off Cheema.

Hansra then struck twice in the 42nd over to end Pakistan’s hopes of reaching a respectable total. Abdul Razzaq, Pakistan’s last big hope, was beaten by the off-spinner with a tossed up delivery before Wahab Riaz edged him to Balaji in the slip.

The last six Pakistan wickets fell for just 44 runs while their last three could fetch just three. The Chandigarh-born Baidwan, 23, took 3-35. Hansra (2-23), Cheema (2-33) and Balaji (2-50) were the other wicket-takers for Canada.