India, led by a superb unbeaten 78 from Virat Kohli, kept their Twenty20 World Cup hopes alive with an emphatic eight-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan in the Super Eights on Sunday.
India dismissed their neighbours for a paltry 128 with Lakshmipathy Balaji taking three for 22 before Kohli tore into the Pakistan attack in a match-winning knock made off 61 balls.
Kohli, who hit two sixes and nine fours, was supported by Virender Sehwag (29) and Yuvraj Singh with an unbeaten 19 as India cruised home with three overs to spare.
Man-of-the match Kohli, missed on 42 and 64, also bowled Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez and finished with figures of one for 21 in three overs.
Hafeez said Pakistan struggled to get going from the start. He also reserved special praise for Kohli.
“We couldn't set the total we really wanted. There is no doubt Virat was excellent today. I thought if we got him out we could put pressure on the other batsmen but we couldn't. We really wanted to win the game. But unfortunately we were losing wickets on a regular basis. We couldn't come back in the last 10 overs,” he said.
“He (Kohli) is in the best form. I haven't seen anyone in the form he is at the moment.”
Meanwhile, Indian captain MS Dhoni saluted his bowlers for their performance after a mauling by Australia a few days ago.
“Today's performance was a really a good one because the part timers contributed, the spinners bowled well and also the fast bowlers,” India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told reporters.
“The first two overs we gave away bit of runs. But after that I felt we were quite consistent.”
India and South Africa were facing the exit door after Australia's earlier win over the South Africans but India's victory kept Group Two wide open.
Australia look virtually certain to reach the last four and the other three teams all still have a chance of progressing.
