Headlines
India keep it 6-0 in World Cups against Pakistan
Adelaide, Feb 15
India had won all their
previous five meetings against Pakistan in the World Cup and it was no
different Sunday as the defending champions defeated their neighbours by
76 runs to take the advantage to a perfect tennis scoreline of 6-0.
India
once again came out on top in the high-octane clash to defeat Pakistan
in their World Cup opener at the Adelaide Oval. A special century by
vice-captain Virat Kohli (107) guided India to 300/7 which Pakistan
failed to chase down. They were bowled out for 224 in 47 overs.
Statistics
showed that Pakistan have never chased more than 262 successfully and
India have always defended a total of 300 or more in the quadrennial
event. Both teams allowed the records to continue.
Opting to bat,
India got off to a fluent start through openers Rohit Sharma (15) and
Shikhar Dhawan (73). Rohit gifted away his wicket while trying to pull a
not-so-short delivery in the eighth over.
However, Dhawan struck
an important second-wicket 129-run partnership with Kohli which gave
India the platform to put up a big total. Dhawan looked good to score a
hundred but confusion in the 30th over with Kohli resulted in him
getting run out.
It was the perfect opportunity for Pakistan to
capitalise with India at 163 for two with 20 overs to go. However,
big-hitter Suresh Raina made sure his wicket counted for India as he
smashed 74 off just 56 balls.
His innings, which was studded with
five fours and three sixes, made Kohli take the backseat as he targeted
leg-spinner Yasir Shah (0/60).
Meanwhile, Kohli played the
anchor's innings and applied his sublime touch to register his 22nd
One-Day International (ODI) hundred, which was punctuated by eight
boundaries. It was the first century by an Indian against Pakistan in a
World Cup contest.
Kohli was later declared the Man-of-the-Match.
"Probably one of the biggest in my career so far," said Kohli, when
asked if his latest century was the best knock he has played in his
career.
Kohli was given reprieve twice during his innings. In the
beginning, he was dropped by Yasir at long-on. The 26-year-old was
again dropped by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal at 76.
India were
looking at getting a 330-plus total while batting at 273/2 in the 45th
over when Sohail Khan (5/55) struck for Pakistan by clinching Kohli's
prized wicket.
His wicket led to a collapse as Raina, Ravindra
Jadeja (3), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (18) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) all
perished quickly.
Pakistan gave away only 27 runs in the last
five overs as the 1992 edition champions clinched five wickets. Sohail,
playing in only his sixth ODI, picked up his first five-wicket haul.
In reply, Pakistan looked steady at the start despite losing experienced batsman Younis Khan (6) cheaply in the fourth over.
Opener
Ahmed Shehzad (47) and Haris Sohail (36) were batting solidly at 79/1
in the 18th over when the latter edged one to Raina in the slips.
Soon
three wickets -- Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood (0) and Umar Akmal (0)
-- in the span of eight deliveries turned the match in favour of the
two-time champions. Suddenly from 102/2, Pakistan were tottering at
103/5.
The Pakistani lower order could not offer much of a fight
and the only person in between India and their victory was captain
Misbah-ul-Haq (76), who scored his 39th half-century. He kept running
out of partners and was eventually caught at mid-wicket in the 46th
over.
Pacer Mohammed Shami was the pick of the Indian bowlers as
he notched up 4/35 from nine overs while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's
(1/41) brilliant spell, which included three maidens, slowed down the
Pakistani innings.
Dhoni lauded the team for rising to the occasion and delivering a performance worthy of becoming the champions.
"It was a very good performance," said Dhoni.
"I was very happy with our batting. When you are batting first, it is not easy over here. It doesn't come on that nicely."
He expressed satisfaction at the way the batsmen applied themselves.
"It was important we stayed in the middle. The big partnership between Virat and Shikhar. And then Raina capitalised as well."
Misbah was gracious in defeat and congratulated India for their superlative performance.
"They posted a big total, and bowled really well. We lost our way with three wickets in the middle," he said.
"The
pitch was really good, and with the quality of their batting, 300 was a
pretty good effort. If all the batsmen had batted well, it could have
been achieved."
India play South Africa in their next group assignment Feb 22 in Melbourne.
Dhoni pleased with India's performance
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni praised his team for producing a commendable performance as the defending champions began their World Cup title defence in style, beating traditional rivals Pakistan by 76 runs in their group stage opener here Sunday.India posted 300 for seven, courtesy superb knocks from vice-captain Virat Kohli (107), opener Shikhar Dhawan (73) and middle-order batsman Suresh Raina (74) before bowling out Pakistan for 224 in 47 overs.
Dhoni expressed happiness at the batting effort of his team.
"It was a very good performance,I was very happy with our batting. When you are batting first, it is not easy over here. It doesn't come on that nicely. It has a bit of a variable pace initially but gets comfortable after that," Dhoni said at the post-match award presentation ceremony.
"It was important we stayed in the middle. Their was a big partnership between Virat and Shikhar and then Raina capitalised as well."
Dhoni also acknowledged the support from the fans and said their support 'helped' the team get into the groove for the match.
"The World Cup itself can get you going. Also the fans. Even before we came here, there were a lot of fans in our lobby, that helped," added the 33-year-old.
Dhoni scored 18 runs from 13 balls and also held on to three catches behind the stumps.