With the huge victory, India jumped to the top of the Super Fours standings on superior Net Run Rate (NRR) as Sri Lanka and Pakistan too have two points each. Only Bangladesh are without a point in Super 4s so far.
As it happened: India vs Pakistan
Resuming on 147/2 in 24.1 overs, overnight batters Virat Kohli (122*) and KL Rahul (111*) slammed unbeaten hundreds to power India to a massive 356 for 2. And the bowlers did not give away Pakistan any chance in the game and restricted them to 128 for 8 in 32 overs.
Here’s how India registered their biggest win against arch-rivals Pakistan in Super Four match:
Good start for India
After being sent in to bat first, India openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill gave India a perfect start. They added a hundred-run partnership to lay down the foundation for a big total for India. Rohit (56 off 49) and Gill (58 off 52) kept the famed Pakistan pacers at bay and raced to their half-centuries. The duo put on 121 runs for the opening wicket in just 16.4 overs on Sunday.
Double blows and rain
Pakistan fought back a bit with two wickets in two overs after India got off to a terrific start. Shadab Khan gave Pakistan a big breakthrough in the 17th over when he removed India skipper Rohit Sharma. Shaheen Shah Afridi then came back into the attack in the next over and dismissed the other set opener, Shubman Gill. India were reduced to 123/2 in 17.5 overs after the double blows. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul started their innings watchfully to not give away Pakistan more wickets. The duo slowly took India to 147/2 in 24.1 overs, when the heavens opened up. The rain forced the match to reserve day on Monday.
Batting masterclass
After a delayed start on the reserve day, India run-machine Virat Kohli and comeback man KL Rahul produced a stunning display of ODI batting to frustrate the Pakistan bowlers. They slowly completed a fifty-run stand, and soon reached fifties each while hitting occasional boundaries. Pakistan were handicapped from the beginning when it was announced that Haris Rauf will not take part in the action due to a niggle. Kohli and Rahul changed gears after their half-centuries and started targeting the bowlers. It was Rahul who completed his 6th ODI hundred, off 100 balls, first before Kohli brought up his 47th ton in the format, off just 84 balls. Kohli also became the fastest batter to breach the 13K mark in ODIs and added a record 233 runs for the third wicket with Rahul. Kohli remained unbeaten on 122 (94 balls) and along with Rahul, who scored 111 not out off 106, powered India to a massive 356 for 2.
Early blows for Pakistan
Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman found it tough to get going against Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. After a slow start, Imam was out caught at second slip off comeback pacer Bumrah in the fifth over. Fakhar and Babar Azam also took time to keep the scoreboard ticking for Pakistan against the two India pacers. And the first bowling change in the 11th over brought another big wicket for India as Hardik Pandya clean bowled Babar with an inswinger to reduce Pakistan to 44 for 2. Rain again arrived after Hardik’s over and interrupted tha match for another long spell.
Scoreboard pressure & Kuldeep show
As soon as the play resumed, Shardul Thakur struck in his first over to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan in the 12th over. After that it was all Kuldeep Yadav in the match. The scoreboard pressure and early wickets did not allow Pakistan batters to play freely and India spinners, Kuldeep and Ravindra Jadeja, squeezed them further. Kuldeep kept on chipping away wickets at regular intervals to finish with impressive figures of 5 for 25 in 8 overs, his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. Kuldeep clean bowled Fakhar Zaman (27) for his first wicket in the 20th over, before trapping Agha Salman (23) LBW in the 24th. He then dismissed Shadab Khan for his third wicket in the 28th over. Kuldeep’s fourth wicket was a caught and bowled dismissal of Iftikhar Ahmed (23) in the 30th over, before adding Faheem Ashraf to complete his five-for in the 32nd over. Pakistan ended their chase at 128 for 8 as pacers Haris Rauf, who did not bowl on Monday, and Naseem Shah did not come out to bat due to niggles.
