India were once again in top form with both bat and ball as they continued to dominate Pakistan in World Cup contests. Virat Kohli and his men protected India's 27-year-old record
Manchester: India protected their 27-year-old unbeaten World Cup record over Pakistan with yet another dominating display at the Old Trafford ground in Manchester on Sunday (June 16).
Rohit Sharma produced an elegant hundred before Kuldeep Yadav flummoxed the Pakistani batsmen as India inflicted a humiliating 89-run defeat at the ICC World Cup 2019. This was India’s seventh win a row over their arch rivals in World Cup, since 1992.
Results of India v Pakistan in Men's World Cups:
1992: 🇮🇳
1996: 🇮🇳
1999: 🇮🇳
2003: 🇮🇳
2011: 🇮🇳
2015: 🇮🇳
2019: 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/BIOxOMZfM6
Chasing a stiff 337-run target, Pakistan were already down and out when rain stopped play after 35 overs. They had managed just 166/6 , nowhere near the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) par-score of 252.
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When play resumed, the match was reduced to 40 overs with a revised target of 302, which meant that Pakistan required 136 runs from five overs.
Imad Wasim (46) and Shadab Khan (20) remained unbeaten to end at 212/6, handing India a comprehensive victory via DLS method.
If Rohit pummelled a pedestrian Pakistan attack with a brilliant 140 off 113 balls in India's 336 for five, Chinaman Yadav (2/32) broke the rival batting spine by removing set batsmen Fakhar Zaman (62) and Babar Azam (48) in successive overs.
Photos: How Rohit Sharma scored a century
The Indian vice-captain scored his 24th ODI hundred — 140 off 113 balls while KL Rahul (57) played the perfect second fiddle in an opening partnership of 137 runs.
Skipper Virat Kohli switched gears effortlessly during his 77 off 65 balls and also became the quickest to 11,000 ODI runs, eclipsing a 17-year record held by iconic Sachin Tendulkar.
Also read: Mohammad Amir gets 2 official warnings
This is India's seventh win over Pakistan in World Cup and like the previous six times, the quality of the contest did not live up to the hype created.
Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed erred in his decision making throughout, first with team selection and then by opting to field. The defensive approach throughout the game, also did not help his side.
Also read: Virat Kohli breaks Sachin Tendulkar's record
Knowing that rain could play spoilsport, they never took the Duckworth-Lewis par score into account, letting India bowlers dictate the terms.
It was a match where two wrists — Rohit's supple wrists and Kuldeep's power — won it for India.
The old adage Revenge is a dish best served cold' couldn't have been more apt in cold and wet Manchester evening as 'Men In Blue' exacted the revenge of the 2017 Champions Trophy final defeat.
The first half was all about Rohit pulverising Pakistani bowlers with cuts and pulls while the second belonged to Yadav, who first bamboozled Babar with a break-back delivery and then forced Zaman to play a suicidal paddle shot.
This was after their 104 run-stand as Pakistan from 117/1 slumped to 129 for 5 in no time and their fans started trudging out of Old Trafford ground.
Hardik Pandya (2/44) did prove his all-round worth by removing the two veterans Mohammed Hafeez (9) and Shoaib Malik (0) off successive deliveries ensuring that Bhuvneshwar Kumar's hobbling out due to stiff hamstring does not affect them at all.
Earlier, Despite heavy rains and overcast conditions during past few days, the pitch had very little moisture and turned out to be a batting beauty which Rohit and the other Indian batsmen exploited to the fullest.
Mohammad Amir (3/47) pitched the ball up and maintained discipline despite a couple of official 'warnings' for running onto the pitch while Wahab Riaz (1/71) and Hasan Ali (1/84) bowled short consistently.
Courtesy Amir, Pakistan did make a comeback in the final few overs as India managed only 38 runs in the final five overs. Vijay Shankar (15 off 15 balls) struggled with his timing, failing to read Amir's cutters.
The strategy to field two spinners — Imad Wasim (0/49) and leg-spinner Shadab Khan (0/61) — didn't work for Pakistan. Their veteran part-timers Shoaib Malik and Mohammed Hafeez bowled one over each.
Here's how the table looks after today. | pic.twitter.com/tS3c49AWYh
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup)Pakistan bowlers bowled full length balls, which worked to Rohit's strength as he played two shots — pull and cut during his innings that had 14 boundaries and three sixes.
Unlike the Champions Trophy final, the Indians were positive from the start. Rahul pulled Amir for a boundary and then Rohit creamed off runs from Hasan Ali.
Rohit also treated the fans with some deft late cuts, back cuts and upper cuts and the occasional slog over deep mid-wicket.
When Riaz came to bowl, he erred both in line and length as his strategy to pepper the Indian batsmen with short pitch stuff backfired. He lost rhythm after getting a warning for stepping onto the dangerous area' and had to come round the wicket.
The only time he looked good was when he bowled full slower delivery to Rahul, who lobbed it to the cover fielder.
Hardik Pandya scored 26 off 19 balls during his hit and miss effort while MS Dhoni edged one off Amir behind the stumps after which rain stopped proceedings.
(With inputs from PTI)
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