India extends unbeaten World Cup streak against Pakistan

Pakistan will face South Africa at Lord's on the coming Sunday.

(Reuters) - India extended their unblemished World Cup record against Pakistan after Rohit Sharma’s century and tidy bowling secured their 89-run victory via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the tournament’s most anticipated group match on Sunday.

Put into bat in a stop-start, rain-hit match, India posted a commanding 336-5, with Rohit Sharma (140) smashing his second century of the tournament.

Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam kept alive Pakistan’s hopes for a while in the chase but losing four wickets in an 18-ball span effectively derailed their hopes.

Set a revised target of 302 in 40 overs, Pakistan eventually finished on 212-6 and slumped to their third defeat in five matches. India moved up to third in the World Cup standings on seven points, while Pakistan are second from bottom on three.

Amir dismissed Hardik Pandya and Mahendra Singh Dhoni in quick succession. Kohli made 77 before Amir dismissed him after a rain interruption.

Amir (3-47) was pick of the Pakistani bowlers again, his immaculate ‘death overs’ denying India a 350-plus total.

India did not have to wait long for a breakthrough when Pakistan began their chase and it came in eventful manner.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar hobbled off the ground midway through his third over after landing awkwardly and Vijay Shankar was called to complete the over.

The pace bowling all-rounder responded by trapping Imam-ul-Haq lbw with his first delivery to mark a memorable World Cup debut.

The left-right combination of Zaman (62) and Azam (48) steadied the innings with a century stand before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed both the well-set batsmen to trigger a collapse.

The left-armer spun one past Azam’s tentative bat to castle him and, in his next over, induced an ill-timed sweep from Zaman which Yuzvendra Chahal pouched at short fine leg.

Pandya then ripped the heart out of Pakistan’s middle order, dismissing Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik in successive deliveries as the wheels came off Pakistan’s chase in a three-over phase when they lost four wickets for 12 runs.

They were 166-6 after 35 overs when rain forced the players off the ground again and the revised target left them needing an impossible 136 off five overs.

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s call ignored

Nobody ever dared to question Imran Khan’s decisions when he captained Pakistan during an illustrious career that ended with World Cup triumph in 1992.

But many wondered why the Prime Minister’s tweets were ignored by Sarfaraz Ahmed, after he advised the team to bat first if they won the toss.

PM Imran sent out a series of messages on Twitter to convey that Pakistan should elect to bat unless there was moisture on the pitch.

Sarfaraz can take refuge in the fact that even India captain Virat Kohli admitted he would have bowled first had he won the toss.

No room for error after India loss, says Imad Wasim

Pakistan must win all four of their remaining group games to have any chance of reaching the World Cup semi-finals, all-rounder Imad Wasim has said after his team’s defeat by arch-rivals India on Sunday.

India, who won by 89 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method, have seven points and occupy third place in the standings behind Australia and New Zealand, while Pakistan are second-bottom with three points from five games.

India’s comprehensive victory left Pakistan in ninth place after just one win from five matches and needing a huge turnaround in form to have any chance of making the semi-finals.

“This was a really, really disappointing result for us,” said Wasim, who came in at number seven and struck an unbeaten 46 off 39 deliveries.

“When we came back on after the rain there was very little we could do, but we know we have four matches left and if we win those, we still have a chance.

“Results of the other countries may come into play. From our point of view, we can only do what we can. What is in our hands is to try to win all four games and take it from there.”

Pakistan face South Africa at Lord’s on Sunday before wrapping up their group campaign with matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Sarfaraz refuses to blame senior men for Pakistan’s troubles

Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed refused to put the blame for his team’s defeat to India and poor World Cup on the senior players, saying all his squad needed to step up their game.

Pakistan were outclassed with India making 336 for five and apart from a 104-run second-wicket partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, Pakistan never looked like mounting a real challenge.

“It definitely is very disappointing. It is hard. We were going really well, especially if you talk about our batting. I thought, when we lost the first wicket, Imam and Fakhar, they made a good partnership,” Sarfaraz said.

“Our manager just said stay on the wicket and just try to hit fours and sixes. Unfortunately, we lost too many wickets, and that’s why we lost the match,” he added, referring to a slump which saw four wickets fall in three overs.

After the match, some in the Pakistan media questioned whether Sarfaraz got the support he needed from his senior players.

The 38-year-old all-rounder Shoaib Malik, dismissed for a duck on Sunday, has yet to hit double figures in his three World Cup innings and has bowled just eight overs of his spin in the tournament — with just a solitary over against India.

Mohamed Hafeez, like Shoaib a former Pakistan captain, also failed to deliver in the crunch match, making just nine as the middle order collapsed.

However, Sarfaraz said the whole team had to share the responsibility for the loss.

“I don’t think you can talk about only the senior players, I think you have to talk about the whole team. I think the whole team is not performing well in all three departments, not fielding, not bowling, and not batting,” he said.

The decision to ask India to bat failed to deliver the anticipated early breakthroughs but the skipper defended his choice, pointing the finger at his bowlers, whose length was often too short.

“I think we won a good toss. I think we didn’t capitalise on that — when we saw the pitch, there was a little bit of moisture on the pitch, we (wanted to use) the conditions. I think we didn’t hit the right areas,” he added.

Kohli becomes fastest to reach 11,000 runs mark

India captain Virat Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach the landmark total of 11,000 runs in one day international cricket during Sunday’s World Cup match against Pakistan.

Kohli reached the 11,000 mark in 222 innings — beating the previous record held by compatriot Sachin Tendulkar who took 276 innings to rack up that total.

The Indian skipper was 71 not out when rain stopped play at Old Trafford in the 47th over with India 305-4.

Tendulkar still holds the record for the most career ODI runs with 18,426.

Rohit ton, Kohli fifty power India to 336-5 against Pakistan

Rohit Sharma smashed his second century in three innings and skipper Virat Kohli made 77 to power India to 336 for five in their World Cup match against Pakistan at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Put into bat under a grey sky, India got off to a strong start with Lokesh Rahul, replacing injured Shikhar Dhawan at the top, and Rohit forging a 136-run stand for the opening wicket.

Rohit made 140 off 113 balls and raised 98 runs with Kohli but Mohammad Amir’s tight bowling at the death overs denied India a 350-plus total.

Amir was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers claiming 3-47.