COLOMBO: Virat Kohli and cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh starred as India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan by eight wickets Sunday to stay alive in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.
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.
India lost Gautam Gambhir off the second ball of the innings, offering a tame return catch to 20-year-old left-arm spinner Raza Hasan, but Kohli and Virender Sehwag denied Pakistan another immediate break.
The pair put on 74 for the second wicket, with Sehwag making 29 before he holed out in the deep off Shahid Afridi.
Singh, who is making his comeback from cancer treatment, claimed two wickets and threw a direct-hit run-out in Pakistan's innings. He then scored 19 not out in an unbroken third wicket stand of 54 with Kohli to carry India home.
The impressive win was set up by the bowlers as seamer Lakshmipathy Balaji claimed three wickets and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took two to leave Pakistan in tatters after they elected to bat.
Shoaib Malik top-scored with 28, but only one other batsman managed to touch 20 in the face of steady bowling by the Indians.
The match began on a scintillating note as the first two overs produced 13 runs each, besides a dropped catch in the slips by Sehwag and the wicket of Imran Nazir.
India hit back to grab four more wickets in the next nine overs, two of them in successive overs by Yuvraj, to reduce Pakistan to 59-5 by the 10th over.
Big-hitter Afridi, who was promoted to number three, had made 14 when he lofted Balaji to deep mid-wicket where Suresh Raina was perfectly positioned to take the skier.
Yuvraj, who was treated for a rare germ-cell cancer between his lungs earlier this year before returning to action at the World Twenty20, ran out Yasir Arafat with a direct throw.
Bilateral cricket ties between the neighbours, suspended after the Mumbai attacks in 2008, are set to resume in December when Pakistan tour India for three one-dayers and two Twenty20 games.
A slideshow of the match can be viewed here.
COMMENTS (116)
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Pak iz great
@Telangana:
I understand that your "freedom struggle" dampened after a little rain yesterday!
@Billy: Sir, please enlighten me with your thoughts on my statement.
@Enlightened: Not so enlightened:))))
After all the hoo haa... please note that Pakistan has won 81 matches against India who won 57 matches in all formats of the game against Pakistan.....
@nhjggf: There is only one Allah, Who is always with the righteous irrespective of the religion one belongs to.
We should apprecaite both the team, one who played better on that day won. winning and lossing is part of game.
Batting has collapsed twice now. Australia next? Let's hope we can play Cummins, Starc, Watson and Doherty sensibly. Hopefully Jamshed will play well as he is due for one big knock. Any Afridi runs are a bonus.
If we get Watson, Warner and Hussey out quickly then it will be interesting to see how Australia bats after that. Australian batting hasn't been under pressure once thanks to top 3.
Australia are in good form and now we are low on confidence. Maybe we can do to Australia what India did to us :). Insha Allah
sour grapes..We as a nation has following excuses after loosing from India. 1. most Pakistani wickets were not taken.. they were given away mostly on average deliveries. 2. Instead of saying India won the match we say Pak lost it on their own. :P 3. Last but not the least..The match is fixed.
Come on..We lost the match because we did not play well. Nothing more nothing less.
@honest: Oh poor guy .. You are so damaged !
Don't know what this rukus is all about? The format is such that if anybody gets four balls in the middle of bat, the course of the game changes. This format is for entertainment only. It means nothing. It only represents luck on a given day. And that is for all teams.
Pakistan must not lose hope. They must keep trying. Some day, in the distant future, they might just beat India in an ICC tournament.But then getting trashed by India perhaps satisfies some sadistic trait. Allah knows best.
Congratulations to Indian and Commiserations to Pakistan. I am glad we were able to beat Pakistan in this high pressure game and keep the hope alive of qualifying for semi-finals. But I got really excited with your new young left arm slow bowler Raza Hassan. Man he has got talent, please nurture this bowler as he is going to be a world beater, beside I am also in awe of Umar Akmal, what a player he is. Besides lot of people have been criticizing Shoab Mallik, I believe he has played well throughout this tournament and stop bad-mouthing him, I am not saying this because he is married to an Indian girl but because he is genuinely playing well, better than rest of the Pakistanis, as far as Shahid Afridi is concerned, yes I agree with most of you guys that he should be shown door and someone like Abdul Razzak should be played ahead of him. This match looked one-sided, India were never really tested and this by no means looked like an old India-Pakistan match. It's unfortunate that either India or Pakistan will be making it to the Semi-finals, it should have been India Vs Pakistan in the finals. But I'd like to wish both India and Pakistan to do well in their remaining matches and make their respective countries proud. I would obviously vote for India but best luck Pakistan. Looking forward to host you in October.
Lets accept it India were the better side and handled pressure way better than our team. Kohli is unbelievable.
@hSsan dont you know we need to submit to Allah's will whether we ate prepated or not.
Indians are celebrating a cricket victory, while we are finghting for our independence. Shows their priorities are all wrong. Jai Telangana!
@Babloo: Since when did a Jat like Sehwag become a Punjabi?
comon guys its just cricket no matter if india beats us thousands of times in worldcup. One thing to say that they play better cricket than us.
pakistanis players have gone into this chronic problem of loosing to India. Indians are able to intimidate them. This was not the case some years ago when pak used beat india regularly.
It seems they get scared of indians when they play them and become nervous. They seriously need a pshycatrist and not a coach.
@Asad:
ajmal is overrated
@Rafi Ka Deewana: First thoughtful comment from Pakistan...
@honest: Going by your theory, India shud have won all the series in the past and will all the series in futures....grow up u looser...
The most unreliable and inconsistant super star produced by Pak Cricket- Shahid Afridi. Get rid of him in remaining matches and Pakistan will still stand a good chance to qualify for finals.
Worst games of cricket almost as bad India and SA losing To Australia. Hafeez worst captain in the whole super 8 tournament persistenting with Raza even though he bowled one over so indian batters can get use to his spin and not rotating when a new batter was in and bring in Afridi and Saeed too late as if he had 200 on the board and no planing to get Indians out. Total unimaginative field setting and the way he batted it seemed he had lost the match before he step on the turf. I also hate Kamran Akmal 's pathetic grin and Nasir Pershing the same way in every game. If Nazir is out the whole doesn't want cross 100. I would get rid all of this whole team except may be Umars, Saeed, Malik and Raza. They have seem to be lost. It was total failure and what the heck is the purpose of Arafat in the team. He has been one horrible person when he has been batting and fielding ...he is almost 70 year old already. We have Razaq and Shafiq sitting on the bunch when the rest of the team can't even score twenty. It was total failure of captaincy, coaching, bowling, batting and planning. The team who can't a get a wicket against the worst bowling attack among the super eight shouldn't be in the tournament because they don't deserve to be and Hafeez is a total Robot as a captain...dumb as a donkey.
@True Muslim Paki: better way to console.
Majority of pakistani players (inc captain) can not even qualify for first class cricket in India. Please don't compare a cowboy team with other professional teams.
Not This timen Allah is always with with India..
@najmuddin: "@Arjun: what you say about Austrailan match in which Indian performance was pathetic."
Buddy, your match with Australia is still pending , is it not? Talk after that is over.
Pakistan Cricket Board should open their eyes after this shameful blast, look at the strategy of Muhammad Hafeez, some one revealed earlier that he took his own decision to Bat first, the management has decided that if Pakistan won the toss they will field first, but so called Mr Professor (A Professor with no mind) took his decision, and gave us a very bitter pill, we should learn Batting skills from Virat Kohli, what a dynamite India has produced, the Boy with unlimited talent and Cricket skills.
After every Pakistan defeat people ask questions about Shahid Afridi, why people forget to talk about, Mr Shoaib Malik, this man continuously Playing from Pakistan and perform none, please check his record on Cricinfo, no great achievement, no Cricket record and no cricketing mind, but unfortunately no on finger out on him and on his performance, today he is also out earlier and not show his 12 years Cricket experience in field, Yasir Arafat, if some one called him a All-rounder so please check the definition of All-rounder, use less player and no Cricket future for him, India beat again Pakistan in World Cup games this saga continues now, God knows how we beat India in World Cup matches, our hopes alive but Shane Watson in a very prime form, the Tuesday Match of Pakistan and Australia will decide the scenario but this shock of defeat we can't forget ever.
I watched the game and wanted India to win.
But honestly, T20 is not a real cricket to me. It is like throwing darts. Pakistan shouldn't have won against South Africa, and England shouldn't have lost to India that badly.
One or two bad overs can change the whole game. One bowler can just get lucky and hit a couple of sixes. So, in the end, I don't really worry too much about who ends up winning.
ODI's and Test matches - yes. They are more real where consistency pays.
pakistan lost when it selected to bat first..considering that india had a mighty batting order with 8 batsmen playing in todays match...it would have been easier task for pak to put a weak indian bowling attack under pressure..as it did in warm up game....
Is it true Pakistan never won even a single match against India in 50 overs world cup or T20 world cups. If it is true, no shame can better this.
@Arjun: what you say about Austrailan match in which Indian performance was pathetic.
Hi Pakistani Supporters. I am commenting from across the border. It was a good match and India played better on the day. Don’t get disheartened, remember it is a T20 and whoever plays better on the day wins. All said and done i was humbled to see Pakistani supporters coming out to support their team in beautiful green gears and props. Due to political reasons cricket is not being played in Pakistan but still you guys show a lot of heart to support your team. You guys rock! Here’s a salute to the brothers of Hind-Pak.
Without looking at the clothes or flags, I couldn't tell the difference between an Indian and a Pakistani fan (who is supposed to look like an Arab).
@Giri: You need a doctor . By God !
Its about thinking that's matter . Its a game anyone can win ( but eventually we won every game in WC matches against Pakistan ) . Pakistan team always want to crush hard India and every time they tend to lose focus . I have seen every time . And a special request to those losers who thinks it was a fixed match then I will say even respected Allah also not gonna help them . If you lose then except that . And on the brighter side loved to watch Ajmal ( World no 1 bowler) hammered by Virat (World most improved cricketer ) for a six . Never seen any one to hit a six on "Mighty Ajmal's " bowling .Still feel Pakistan is a best T20 side and only India can challenge them . All the best for next match in Jan 2013 . We are waiting for that and trust me m not gonna miss that match .
Very sad..
next match is impossible to beat; what answers team has for us!!
Lost..again..surf galli cricket met jery safety ho ....even Allahabad is against Pakistan for evil they spew ..
@Arjun: Thats why Pakistan defeated India during the warm-up match.Arjun your over-confidence will strike back you hard.
Congrats India. Well deserved victory
Its such surprise to see that if your team losses you blindly say Match fixed. This is the kind of respect to the players??? . Its a game teams can lose or Win . But the moment pakistan team losses , its people say match fixed. Such SICK people in the world..
Pakistan messed it up, India held it together and won.......and that's a fact.
The most important thing for me was the way Virat Kohli handled Ajmal. He read him perfectly. Never really got beaten by him. Saeed is the best spinner in the world and world class batsmen have trouble reading him. I think Virat will pass on his knowledge of Ajmal to rest of the team and it will help India in the forthcoming test series.
Despite being from Pakistan,I would say Virat Kohli really proved his excellence today.Great performance indeed!!
So what, we won the warm up game first.
Pakistan's lost to India once again highlights not only the poor batting, fielding and bowling but also the poor selection of players. Despite the continuous fragile performances from Afridi the selectors have persisted with playing him in that important match – similar is the case with Yasir Arafat – his friendly medium paced bowling and his inability to score runs certainly make no impression on the opponent sides. By the way what Abdul Razzak and Asad Shafiq are doing there sitting in the pavilion? Had they been included in the side the result would have been different.
Shaheens had worst nightmare. I love India..... Jay Bharat.
Our shaheens have only one wing when it matters the most, they always leave the nation embarrassed in big matches against India "shame"
pakistan might declare a national bounty on virat kohli lol
Pakistan messed it up, proving how unpredictable we are. Full marks to India for holding it together and winning.
@vow: This time Allah is with India..
The win against was not a fluke, it was good cricket. India was lucky today.. Waiting to see them get thrashed by south africa. and ofcourse Pakistan will beat Australia InshAllah
Somebody really needs to get our boys a sports psychologist. All the majors teams in the world have it. It's amazing how they crumble like a cookie under pressure.
@honest: Take a napkin brother..... You need it..
Well, that was a clinical performance against Pakistan, who was in much better form than India. But India has a long way to go since Pakistan still has the better run rate, so it has to pip Pakistan once again by getting better of South Africa to reach the semi-finals.
@honest: The largest slum of South Asia is located in Karachi, that is Orangi
Allha loves India...
This time Allah is with India..
I for Inshaallah , I for India
@mr. righty rightist:
hahahaha well said!!
O MY GOD, INDIA WON..IT MUST BE CONSPIRACY AGAINST PAKISTAN :)
Yes, Pakistan had an edge aginst India. why you guys don't concentrate on the game and keep the cool instead of opening big mouths. Body language of today's game was like already lost. Frankly It was fluke win against SA and today very cheap loss against India. Next game is against Australia. My goddess It will need a lot if Pakistan has to move to semifinal.
Lolzzzzz!! India Rockzzzz and Pakistan deserves it.. :)
If Pakistan wins...Inshaallah.
If India wins...fixed match.
Now dear pakistanis please comment on quality of IPL cricket and Indian bowling attack. Pakistan simply are not good enough for India.
India wins.. Looks like Indians are so composed even in great pressure..
Favortism is still running in Pakistan because there is no place for in-competent Shoeb Mallik and Shahid Afridi. It is beyond any common sense fo giving these guys chances despite their continued failure with the bat and ball.
@vow: Really ???
India have won easily. In fact, it was a hiding for Pakistan. Lets hope there is still a Pakistan for the next World Cup.
so all tarots,fortune readers went waste ..
Match Fixed... .... ..... .......
By God
Pakistan should have made India bat first. Our performance, so far did not merit us to fly too high. The way we won against Kiwis and S A was not due to our labor of love. It was really the work from above, yes due to the blessings of God almighty.
Pakistan lost.... So the match was fixed.....
Pakistan lost because it was fixed right eh...
There should be a national holiday declared now and PTI and IK should take a jalsa and demand that the PCB chairman writes an apology letter to the nation
INDIA WINS!!!
@Ch. Allah Daad:
sir go back to work
we are having a party- yessssssss
indiyaah indiyaaah
Cancel all holidays if they lose again
I think the match has been fixed. Its really obvious.
Let's see if Pakistan launches any Made in China missiles today.
@Pakistanis.
If Pakistan loses today, would agree that it was Allah's will?
It was Allah's will that Pakistan loses today.
So no matter what you say, Allah's will prevails.
Then why use Inshahallah in every sentence displaying your bigoted piety?
Having seen the Pakistani batting shambles, we can officialy classify our national side as chokers too!
Looks like this is fixed
Pakistan is bowled out for 128 but it still going to be tough match for India since pitch is turning but as I commented earlier ie India is hoping that history would repeat itself.
Pakistan played very poor... like children.. uuhhhh
@Ch. Allah Daad: Big mistake to promote Afridi in this situation.
And another big mistake by not playing Razzaq ( he is a billion times more reliable than Afridi with the bat)
Inshallah India will prevail...
...and if Pakistan loses, everyone works and extra day to pay off the country's debt.
considering what could have happened with the batting, i reckon we've done brilliantly to claw it back.
No national holidays - Pakistanis take enough time off!
There should be a national holiday if Pakistan wins and two holidays if Afridi scores fifty.