India beat Pakistan in Cricket World Cup
February 15, 2015
It may only have been the second day of a six-week tournament but make no mistake, India's defeat of Pakistan in Pool B of the embryonic Cricket World Cup on Sunday mattered.
An estimated 988 million people saw the semifinal in the 2011 World Cup between the two countries in perhaps the most watched sports event of all time.
And in front of a bumper Adelaide Oval crowd of 42,000 on Sunday, a patient century from Virat Kohli (107 from 126 balls) helped India to a total of 300-7 from its 50 overs which Pakistan never came close to beating.
"It's one of the biggest wins of my career. It's amazing to start like this," said Kohli after making his 22nd ODI century. "Expectations of me will rise but I just look to stand up to it. I hate losing. I love to win and play for my country."
Pakistan suffer middle order collapse
Pakistan paceman Sohail Khan accounted for all but two of India's top seven batsmen, but his side's run chase was effectively derailed with the loss of three wickets for one run in eight balls in the middle of their innings.
Opener Ahmed Shehzad (47) and No.3 Haris Sohail (36) had put on 68 for the third wicket after the early loss of star man Younis Khan, but the Pakistan middle order were blown away after Haris fell to the right arm off spin of Ravichandran Ashwin in the 18th over.
Umesh Yadav picked up the wickets of Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood in three balls before Ukmar Akmal was given out for the thinnest of edges to Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni off the bowling of Jadeja.
The on-field umpire originally gave Akmal not out and so India, who never use the video review system endorsed by other teams in the longer "Test match" form of the game, were grateful when the technology came to their aid.
With half of their team dismissed and only 103 runs on the board, Pakistan were in no position to overhaul the winning total and stumbled to 224 all out in the 47th over.
Yadav did the damage with his two wickets at the top of the innings while Mohammad Shami posted impressive figures of 4 for 35 off his nine overs.
South Africa survive scare from minnows
In Sunday's earlier game in Hamilton, New Zealand, traditional under-achievers South Africa got off to a disastrous start against Zimbabwe before David Miller and JP Duminy staged a breathtaking rescue act.
From a precarious 83 for four, South Africa did not lose another wicker in racing to a huge 339, with Miller smashing 138 and Duminy 115 during an unbroken stand of 256 - a new fifth-wicket record in all one-day internationals.
A gallant Zimbabwe were bowled out for 277 in the 49th over after Hamilton Masakadza (80) and opener Chamu Chibhabha (64) had briefly threatened an upset when they took their team to 191 for two.
In the first two matches of the tournament on Saturday, hosts New Zealand and Australia both recorded convincing wins, against Sri Lanka and England respectively.
pwh/jh (AFP, Reuters)