Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh starred to help India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan by eight wickets Sunday to stay alive in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
A report in the Deccan Chronicle writes that India, who would have been knocked out of the tournament had they lost, skittled Pakistan for 128 on a slow pitch and then surpassed the modest target in 17 overs, thanks largely to Kohli's unbeaten 78 off 61 balls.
A sell-out crowd of 35,000 at Colombo's Premadasa stadium, including Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, saw India continue their stranglehold on Pakistan in major world meets.
Pakistan have never beaten India in either the 50-over World Cup or the World Twenty20, in which they contested a thrilling final in 2007.
Sunday's match was only the third Twenty20 international between the two countries and the result set up a thrilling shoot-out for the two semi-final berths from group two.
Australia lead the group with two wins, India and Pakistan have one each, while South Africa have lost both matches so far.
The last round of group matches will be played on Tuesday with Australia taking on Pakistan and India playing South Africa.
Meanwhile a report in the Deccan Herald writes that pushed to the wall, India brought their A game to the fore to put it across Pakistan in an emphatic manner here on Sunday.
Having suffered an huge defeat against Australia on Friday, India needed to wipe their slate clean to stay in contention for a slot in the semifinals and they did so with some degree of comfort in a high-voltage contest. After a rejigged bowling attack got its job done – dismissing Pakistan for a modest 128 in 19.4 overs – Indian batsmen got the required runs in 17 overs in a Group 2 match of the World T20 at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Notwithstanding the margin of victory, eight-wicket win and no less, India’s chase wasn’t without its share of tension. Gambhir fell to a second-ball blob while there was a customary hit and miss play by the returning Virender Sehwag (29, 24b, 4x4) who, it must be said, did his bit in a high-pressure game. Virat Kohli, man of the match for his unbeaten 78 (61b, 8x4, 2x6), was reprieved twice – on 42 and 64 – but at the end of the day it was a well-deserved win, their first in eight Super Eight matches spread over three events.
Kohli once again underscored his status as India’s best batsman at the moment with an innings filled with high-quality strokes that took the sting out of Pakistani attack. Having survived some edgy moments early in his innings, the 23-year-old grew in confidence as he cut, drove and danced down the wicket as Pakistan’s outcricket went to pieces. Yuvraj Singh, after a satisfying day on the field with the ball, chipped in with an unbeaten 19 (16b, 2x4) as India maintained their all-win record over arch-rivals in World Cups.
By Indian Sports News Network