Virat Kohli’s masterpiece placed Pakistan on the brink of Champions Trophy elimination on Sunday. The star hitter scored his 51st ODI century, an unbeaten 100 from 111 deliveries, to lead India to a six-wicket win at Dubai International Stadium.
India qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals by chasing 242 runs in 42.3 overs.
‘King Kohli’, the outstanding batsman, shared 114 runs with Shreyas Iyer for the third wicket to derail the defending champions.
After this loss, Pakistan’s slender knockout hopes depend on Bangladesh beating New Zealand at Rawalpindi Stadium on Monday. Pakistan and Bangladesh will be eliminated if New Zealand wins.
The former champions started their chase well with 31 runs off 29 deliveries from Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Pakistan struck early when Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled the Indian skipper for 20.
Virat Kohli and Gill then shared 69 runs to keep the innings going. Gill scored 46 off 52 balls, including six boundaries, before falling in the 18th over.
Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then had a 114-run stand to bring India within touching distance of victory. Both batters reached half-centuries during the partnership, dominating the game.
Pakistan broke the stand when Khushdil Shah removed Iyer, who scored 56 off 67 balls with five fours and a six. Rohit was dismissed by Shaheen, who then dismissed Hardik Pandya for eight.
Despite two setbacks, India never gave up, with Kohli finishing the chase smoothly to win comfortably.
India’s top scorer, Virat Kohli, scored an unbroken 100 off 111 balls with seven boundaries.
Pakistan’s Shaheen took two wickets, Abrar and Khushdil one each.
Batting first, the hosts scored 241 runs before being bowled out in the final over despite Saud Shakeel’s half-century.
Pakistan’s new opening duo of Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq started well, with the former captain dominating.
When Pakistan reached 41, Hartik removed Babar Azam to break the opening stand. Babar scored 23 off 26 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.
Imam’s return to the national side ended in a runout by Axar Patel in the next over, reducing Pakistan to 47/2 in 9.2 overs.
After successive blows, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Saud drove recovery.
The two cleverly added 104 runs for the third wicket before Rizwan was dismissed by Axar Patel in the 34th over.
The Pakistan skipper scored 46 runs off 77 balls with three fours.
Saud, Pakistan’s batting star, returned eight deliveries later after smashing a 76-ball 62 with five fours.
Ravindra Jadeja then picked up Tayyab Tahir (four) and reduced Pakistan to 165/5 in 36.1 overs.
After Pakistan vice-captain Salman Ali Agha and Khushdil Shah added 35 runs to reach 200, Kuldeep Yadav struck twice on successive deliveries to end their comeback. Khushdil then led Pakistan’s batting expedition and hit 38 off 39 deliveries with two fours.
He briefly partnered with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, who made 14 and eight.
India’s top bowlers were Kuldeep Yadav with three, Pandya with two, Harshit Rana, Jadeja, and Patel with one apiece.
