ADELAIDE, Australia // Virat Kohli smashed a century to steer India to a 76-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in a World Cup blockbuster watched by a potential global audience of 2.5 billion people on Sunday.
Defending champions India started the 2015 edition by piling up 300 for seven at the Adelaide Oval, where almost 42,000 fans turned the occasion into a vibrant, colourful and noisy event, before Pakistan were dismissed for 224 to suffer a sixth World Cup loss against their neighbours.
India’s win meant that in all four games played so far at this World Cup the team batting first has triumphed, with all four victorious sides making 300-plus totals.
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South Africa had earlier maintained that trend with a 62-run victory over Zimbabwe in Hamilton thanks to a score of 339 for four.
Kohli hit 107, becoming the first Indian to make a World Cup century against his country’s bitterest rivals, as Pakistan wilted in the 40-degree heat.
“It’s one of the biggest wins of my career. It’s amazing to start like this,” said Kohli after his 22nd ODI century on the same ground where he made two centuries in a Test match against Australia in December.
“Expectations of me will rise but I just look to stand up to it. I hate losing. I love to win and play for my country. My role is to play a long innings so that the power hitters can play with freedom.”
Suresh Raina contributed a breezy 74 off 56 balls with three sixes while opener Shikhar Dhawan made 73 at just over a run-a-ball.
Pakistan’s giant paceman Mohammad Irfan, the tallest international cricketer at 7ft 1in, endured a torrid afternoon, finishing with figures of none for 58 off 10 overs and getting warned for running on the wicket.
Pakistan seamer Sohail Khan claimed five for 55 in his maximum 10 overs but his team-mates always struggled to keep in touch with the required run-rate when they batted under the Adelaide floodlights with only skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (76) making a fifty.
“They played well, posted a good total and bowled well. When we lost wickets in the middle it made it hard,” said Misbah.
“The pitch was very good, and our bowlers pulled them back well in the last 10 overs. They might have scored more. Two or three of our batsmen didn’t get in and you can’t say much about that. I thought 300 was gettable.”
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