India's Shikhar Dhawan celebrates as he reaches his century during the ICC Champions Trophy group B match against the West Indies at The Oval cricket ground, London England June 11, 2013. PHOTO: REUTERS
India raced past West Indies' 233-9 in 39.1 overs, Shikhar Dhawan making an unbeaten 102 after sharing century partnerships with Rohit Sharma (52) and Dinesh Karthik (51 not out).
It was India's second successive win in group B, ensuring them a place in the semi-finals even before their last league match against winless Pakistan in Birmingham on Saturday.
The West Indies and South Africa, who both beat Pakistan, clash in Cardiff on Friday to determine the second semi-finalist from the group.
India's win means that it is almost impossible for Pakistan to qualify for the next stage of the competition.
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@cricket fan A well thought over reply. That is how India should think and select the team now against Pakistan irrespective of the result.
India should play the match on saturday with maximum reserve players to strengthen the bench. Would be a welcome result if India still wins!
@Pakhtoon: You ever come out of past??
@GhostRider: No dear. That would not workout well for either of us coz an Indian would always play for India and a Pakistani would always play for Pakistan.....we will manage the bowling, you try to manage ur cricket.....
Dear Suleman, I salute your ignorance. See India already has 4 points while West Indies and SA have two points each with one match still to be played between them. Whoever wins that match will qualify for the semifinal. Simple. Even if that match is washed out, they'll be awarded with one point each and the team which has better run rate will qualify. So Pakistan beating India with a huge margin won't make an iota of difference. Pakistan is out of the CT13. Now please stop day dreaming.
@GhostRider: Good Idea..
@Suleman: good joke!!
@ Suleman,
But Still 4 points will be more THAN 2 so India will got to Semi Finals.
@ Shahid Khan
Add to that NO Sehwag & Ghambir
@Suleman:
Its one thing to never give up and another thing to day dream the impossible.
Even f what you say happens and India loses by 400 runs, But still India won two matches, One of the WI or SA will win two matches. So no matter how good your runrate is you are still going home and watching the rest of the tourney on TV.
Congratulations to India! I envy your batting power. No Dravid, Tendulkar, Yuvraj, etc. and here you are. Wow.
honestly, every tournament needs pakistan to qualify...they have a flair about themselves, regulation swagger and a lot of unpredictibility and drama...it is always attractive to see the mercurial pakistan play cricket...
India beating Pakistan is almost impossible
Friends lets not loss all hope. I know its very tough and difficult but what if Pakistani batting fires and score 380/400 runs and then bundled out India under 100 runs and win by 280/300 runs in last match ? then our net run rate will be very good to reach semi-Final and then Final to win the cup. So be optimistic and everything will be fine on Saturday. But important is to win toss and bat first or if India win toss and bat first Bundled out them for 70/80 runs and chase it down in 10 overs to improve run rate ..so yes its little difficult but not IMPOSSIBLE. Remember nothing is impossible if all Mighty is with us !
@v: Well it is impossible ET should rectify it.
The possible explanations are mainly due to the following: Indians are battle hardened, especially with IPL. Then anybody who comes to the top has to be really proven. Dhawan has come at Test level at the age of 26. Not at the age of 18 / 20 as it used to be. Since nobody is visiting Pakistan, the Pakistani board should make an effort to send its players to county cricket all over the world. At any given time a minimum of 30 players should have overseas engagement. At the same time PCB should pay these cricketers.
Here is the deal India>>> You give us two batsmen and we ll give you two quick bowlers.
@Charlie Chapatti:
The good players in Pakistan are not given a chance to show there talent.
Pakistan needs to fire all the under performing players and get in fresh blood
Before playing with Pakistan, India chucked Pakistan out of the tournament. What a soft power !!!!
@Dr Dang:
"India kicked Pakistan out of the competition even before playing them."
No wonder so many subscribe to such jingoistic drivel.
Pakistan is not winning because no bookies are betting on their victory. They would play the game seriously only if there is a windfall!
@Hassan: My thoughts exactly - amazing how AFP chooses to tiptoe around the truth.
Almost impossible??????? 100% impossible..
I hope that India do us a favour and give us a complete and humiliating defeat so that the 'at least we beat India' card is not pulled out as usual.
India kicked Pakistan out of the competition even before playing them.
I am an optimist. 'Almost impossible' is not the same as 'impossible.'
super stuff from India. They showed us how to bat against listless bowling attacks. We dug our own grave by playing defensive cricket.