Match 4 Pool B Played at Adelaide Oval. Man of the Match V Kohli 

India 300/7 (Virat Kohli 107, SK Raina 74, S Dhawan 73, Sohail Khan 5/55)  beat Pakistan 224 All Out ( Misbah Ul Haque 76 ,Ahmed Shehzad 47 , Haris Sohail 36 , Mohammad Sami 4/35 , MM Sharma 2/35, UT Yadav 2/50 ) by 76 runs. 

Reigning Champion started their world cup 2015 world cup campaign through comfortably winning the battle royal against its arch rival Pakistan by 76 runs. It is in world cup cricket India has won every match they played against Pakistan. This win has extended India’s winning streak against Pakistan. A capacity crowd at Adelaide oval was expecting a cracker of a contest. There were tensions and excitement all right. But at the end Dhoni squad made it a bit easy. Pakistan has to improve in many areas if they have to go deep into the tournament.

Young Pakistan team handicapped by injury and suspensions of many of its key players could hardly create any contest. They bowled well in patches. But the brilliant batting by Indian top order kept Indian innings cruising excepting the last 5 overs when Pakistan could restrict Indians to a manageable score of 300 on the easy paced Adelaide Oval wicket. Pakistan again batted well in patches, played several good strokes but played some terrible strokes. In the end only captain courageous Misbah kept ploughing in the sand. His solo effort was not enough as Pakistan was bowled out for 224 conceding a 76 runs defeat to India.

Indian top order which struggled in Australia in the Carlton Mid tri series came into its own against not too penetrative Pakistani pace attack. After early loss of Rohit Sharma to a sharp rising Sohail Khan Delivery Dhawan and Kohli laid the foundation with a dynamic 129 second wicket partnership 

India won the toss and on what appeared to be an easy paced wicket chose to bat. Man Mountain Pakistani fast bowler Irfan made Indian openers groping at the early stage. But once the early swing failed to get not more than Rohit’s wicket Indian batsmen settled to a tune. Indian top order which struggled in Australia in the Carlton Mid tri series came into its own against not too penetrative Pakistani pace attack. After early loss of Rohit Sharma to a sharp rising Sohail Khan Delivery Dhawan and Kohli laid the foundation with a dynamic 129 second wicket partnership. Dhawan was riding his luck with some edgy strokes. Virat was dropped early and badly needed such a break to get back his form. Virat –Dhawan partnership was threatening to take away the match when from terrible mix up Dhawan got run out. Riana joined Kohli who by that time regained his magical touch. The pair was looking gorgeous .India was looking good for 350.  Sohail Khan coming at his last spell bowled brilliantly to remove Kohli, Riana, Dhoni and Rahane restricting India to 300/7 in allotted overs. Sohail grabbed 5/55. All did not seem to be over for Pakistan at mid-way stage. Apart from Kohli (107) , Raina ( 74) and Dhawan ( 73) rest of the Indian batting was pretty ordinary. For Pakistan only Sohail bowled with pace and penetration.

Veteran Younis Khan opening the innings with Shehzad found it a tough going. He could better suit at middle order instead in a very inexperienced batting line up. The injury to first choice opener Mohammad Hafiz has created disorder in Pakistan line up. Younis left early being bounced out. Young Harris Sohail coming at number three was stroking well till he lost his cool. Trying to play one stroke too many he lost his wicket at a crucial stage when his partnership with Shehzad was just started blooming. He tried to be too adventurous against Ashwin and went for a well-made 36. India was relieved to see him back as talented left hander just started hurting them with good strokes. Quick shuffling of bowling by Dhoni did not allow young Pakistani batsmen to settle to any rhyme.Misbah joined Shehzad and then Shehzad lost his wicket. Umar Akmal and Shoaib Maqsood were perished in no time. Good tight bowling by Indian spinners led Pakistan to take some liberty against Indian pacers. That brought disaster. Middle order collapse put Pakistan back to the wall. The cream of Pakistan batting was gone with Misbah left as lone warrior to battle out with Boom Boom Afridi. It was a long way to go. Afridi stayed with Misbah for a while and run rate was kept within sight. But loss of Afridi and Wahab Riaz almost put last nail in Paksiatn’s coffin. Yet Misbah went on playing all his strokes. But it became too late for Pakistan. His courageous battling 76 in 84 deliveries could only reduce to margin below 100. Pakistan got bowled out at 224 with still three overs to play.

India’s reign over Pakistan continued. This match saw top order Indian batsmen Kohli and Dhawan getting back to groove at the right moment. India bowled to a plan and fielded very smartly. The looked like real defending champion.

BDST: 1901 HRS, FEB 15, 2015