India thrash Pakistan to maintain perfect WC record

AFP- India pulled off a convincing 89-run win on the Duckworth and Lewis scoring method over arch rivals Pakistan in their ICC Cricket World Cup match played at Old Trafford, Manchester yesterday.

Pakistan ended their innings at 212 for 6 after their target was revised to 302 runs from 40 overs following a rain interruption.     

Kuldeep Yadav played key role as he sparked a dramatic Pakistan collapse as the left-arm spinner struck twice in quick succession as Pakistan, who had been 117 for one, lost four wickets for 12 runs in 18 balls.

This was after Pakistan lost their first wicket in bizarre fashion.

India paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar limped off four balls into the fifth over with a hamstring injury that a team spokesman said had ruled him out of the rest of the match.
But World Cup debutant Vijay Shankar, brought on to complete the over, struck first ball when he had Imam-ul-Haq lbw for seven to leave Pakistan at 13 for one. 

Earlier, Rohit Sharma hit his second hundred in three innings as India amassed a formidable 336 for five from their 50 overs after they were put into bat. 

In addition, Virat Kohli became the quickest player to 11,000 one-day international runs during his innings of 77.

The India Captain reached the landmark in his 222nd innings, smashing compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 276 innings.

Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir was his side’s only threat with three for 47 despite two early warnings for running on the pitch.

Sharma and K. L. Rahul (57) got India off to a fine start with a first-wicket stand of 137 after Pakistan won the toss.

Sharma, who made 122 in India’s opening win over South Africa and 57 against Australia, went to fifty in just 34 balls against Pakistan.

He got there in style with a six over long-on and a cut four, off successive deliveries from recalled leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

Rahul also brought his fifty up with a six, against off-spinner Shoaib Malik.

But he fell soon afterwards to Wahab Riaz who struck one ball after receiving two official warnings in consecutive deliveries for running on the pitch.

Sharma went into the 90s with an extraordinary square-cut six over paceman Hasan Ali.

Then a single off Shadab saw him to an 85-ball hundred including three sixes and nine fours. 

It was Sharma’s 24th ODI century.

Rain stopped play with India 305 for four in the 47th over, with Kohli then 71 not out. But to the relief of tournament organisers, as well as a capacity crowd, with a World Cup record four matches having already been washed out, play resumed after 55 minutes with no overs lost.