Virat Kohli hit two sixes and eight fours in a
career-best 78 not out as India crushed Pakistan by eight wickets in
the ICC World T20 Super Eight.
Victory keeps India in the semi-final hunt, particularly as they
boosted their net run-rayete by getting home with three overs to spare.
India chased down Pakistan's below-par 128. After losing Gautam Gambhir
on the second ball of the innings, Kohli and Virender Sehwag (29) combined for a 74-run stand off 61 balls that virtually sealed the match for India.
Pakistan's total was their lowest ever World Twenty20 total, although it represented a recovery from 60-5 at halfway.
Imran Nazir was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan as Pakistan started badly after winning the toss.
The out-of-form Shahid Afridi drove his first ball emphatically over the bowler's head for four but again could not build a total, holing out to Suresh Raina after making 14.
Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal both edged Yuvraj (2-16) to keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni while targeting the stands and captain Mohammad Hafeez played the innocuous Kohli straight on to his stumps to depart for 15, from 28 balls.
Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal put together a highly creditable stand of 47 in 5.3 overs before Malik (28) swatted Ravichandran Ashwin straight to mid-wicket.
Umar
Gul clipped Lakshmipathy Balaji for six but was caught behind trying
for another, and Saeed Ajmal scooped straight to Dhoni next ball to give
Balaji figures of 3-22.
Gautam Gambhir chipped the second legitimate ball of the India innings straight back to bowler Raza Hasan and they limped to 11 for one from three overs.
But Sehwag hit two boundaries in the next and his side never looked back.
The veteran was outshone by Kohli in a second-wicket stand which reached 50 in 46 balls, Kohli having lofted Afridi for six in the previous over. The pair put on 74 before Sehwag was superbly caught at long-off by the backpedalling Gul for 29.
Umar Akmal dropped Kohli despite a brilliant diving effort and the batsman reached his half-century from 41 balls by cutting Ajmal for his seventh four.
He also drilled him for six the ball after Yuvraj hit Hafeez for four, but Kohli was dropped again when Nazir could not get into position quickly enough.
Two boundaries followed in that over and Yuvraj hit the winning single in the next to finish 19 not out.
Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with an empathic eight-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Eights on Sunday.
India dismissed their neighbours for a paltry 128 with Lakshmipathy Balaji taking three for 22 before Kohli tore into the Pakistan attack in a match-winning knock made off 61 balls.
Kohli, who hit two sixes and nine fours, was supported by Virender Sehwag (29) and Yuvraj Singh with an unbeaten 19 as India cruised home with three overs to spare.
Man-of-the match Kohli, missed on 42 and 64, also bowled Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez and finished with a figures of one for 21 in three overs.
Pakistan, who chose to bat first, were bowled out for 128 in 19.4 overs, Shoaib Malik (28) and Umar Akmal (21) lifting the 2009 winners with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuvraj captured two wickets each.
India and South Africa were facing the exit door after Australia's earlier win over the South Africans but India's victory kept Group Two wide open.
Australia look virtually certain to reach the last four and the other three teams all still have a chance of progressing.
India chased down Pakistan's below-par 128. After losing Gautam Gambhir on the second ball of the innings, Kohli and Virender Sehwag (29) combined for a 74-run stand off 61 balls that virtually sealed the match for India.Pakistan's total was their lowest ever World Twenty20 total, although it represented a recovery from 60-5 at halfway.
Imran Nazir was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan as Pakistan started badly after winning the toss.
The out-of-form Shahid Afridi drove his first ball emphatically over the bowler's head for four but again could not build a total, holing out to Suresh Raina after making 14.
Nasir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal both edged Yuvraj (2-16) to keeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni while targeting the stands and captain Mohammad Hafeez played the innocuous Kohli straight on to his stumps to depart for 15, from 28 balls.
Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal put together a highly creditable stand of 47 in 5.3 overs before Malik (28) swatted Ravichandran Ashwin straight to mid-wicket.
Brilliant
Umar Akmal followed for 21 as Ashwin also finished with 2-16 and Yasir Arafat was brilliantly run out by Yuvraj.Umar
Gul clipped Lakshmipathy Balaji for six but was caught behind trying
for another, and Saeed Ajmal scooped straight to Dhoni next ball to give
Balaji figures of 3-22.Gautam Gambhir chipped the second legitimate ball of the India innings straight back to bowler Raza Hasan and they limped to 11 for one from three overs.
But Sehwag hit two boundaries in the next and his side never looked back.
The veteran was outshone by Kohli in a second-wicket stand which reached 50 in 46 balls, Kohli having lofted Afridi for six in the previous over. The pair put on 74 before Sehwag was superbly caught at long-off by the backpedalling Gul for 29.
Umar Akmal dropped Kohli despite a brilliant diving effort and the batsman reached his half-century from 41 balls by cutting Ajmal for his seventh four.
He also drilled him for six the ball after Yuvraj hit Hafeez for four, but Kohli was dropped again when Nazir could not get into position quickly enough.
Two boundaries followed in that over and Yuvraj hit the winning single in the next to finish 19 not out.
Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with an empathic eight-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Eights on Sunday.
India dismissed their neighbours for a paltry 128 with Lakshmipathy Balaji taking three for 22 before Kohli tore into the Pakistan attack in a match-winning knock made off 61 balls.
Kohli, who hit two sixes and nine fours, was supported by Virender Sehwag (29) and Yuvraj Singh with an unbeaten 19 as India cruised home with three overs to spare.
Man-of-the match Kohli, missed on 42 and 64, also bowled Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez and finished with a figures of one for 21 in three overs.
Pakistan, who chose to bat first, were bowled out for 128 in 19.4 overs, Shoaib Malik (28) and Umar Akmal (21) lifting the 2009 winners with a 47-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuvraj captured two wickets each.
India and South Africa were facing the exit door after Australia's earlier win over the South Africans but India's victory kept Group Two wide open.
Australia look virtually certain to reach the last four and the other three teams all still have a chance of progressing.
