Milestone man Virat Kohli is tricky with 100 undefeated as India puts one foot in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy in a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in a luxury group match between archrivals on Sunday The tracking has been fixed.
Kohli, an architect of countless successful pursuits, hadn’t put in 100 as India overwhelmed a 242-run target in 7.3 overs and registered a second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Pakistan made 241 with two deliveries left in stop-start innings, where Saud Shakeel (62) and Mohammad Rizwan (46) scored the majority of the runs before picking the bat.
After his fellow countrymen Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakhala, Kohli’s player was also the third batter, completing 14,000 runs in ODIs, reaching the mark earlier than them.
“I think the way we started playing the ball is great,” said India captain Rohit Sharma.
“It was a huge effort from the bowling unit to limit them to such a score.
“We knew it would be a little better to hit under the lights… We supported the experience in the batting lineup and got those runs out there.”
Indian sailor Mohamed Shami started with 11 balls, including five wide, after Pakistani captain Mohamed Rizwan won the toss and selected the bat.
Shami saw his third discomfort and replaced him, and Hardik Pandya caught Babar Azam (23) behind him. Pakistan lost other openers in the next over when Imam ul Haq died.
Saud and Rizwan added 104 runs to stable Pakistan, but Pakistan lost both set batters after Akyar Patel bowled Rizwan and made a catch to send Saud back.
Spinner Kuldeep Yadav (3-40) rejected Salman Agha and Shaheen Afridi with consecutive delivery but was denied a hat trick.
Khushdil Shah contributed by ordering 38, but played three dotballs in the final before holed out to Deep to become the last man.
Rohit (20) began actively when India came out to chase, but the opener repositioned the stumps by the fourth-unplayable yoker in Afridi.
Shubman Gill (46) played a gorgeous drive and pulled Harris Rauf, but it seemed like there was luck on his side as midwicket Kushdil spilled the catch.
Gil didn’t reach his half century when his defense was violated by a sharply transformed delivery from Abral Ahmed.
Shrayas Iyer (56) joined Kohli to accumulate risk-free runs to calm the nerves of Indian dressing rooms.
Kohli easily piloted the field, sealing India’s victory with four, and also raised the 51st ODI 100.
Pakistan’s title defense is on the thread following a second consecutive defeat in the tournament, with the theoretical chance to create the final four dependent on other outcomes.
Play xi:
Pakistan: Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Muhammad Rizwan (C/WK), Salman Ali Agha, Tayyab Tahir. Khushdil Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gull, Virat Kohli, Shreyar Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Mohammad Shami, Kuldeep Yadavavava