Virat Kohli carries India to emphatic win over Pakistan

By CLIVE WELLINGTON
Published on 01/10/2012 02:19

RISING star Virat Kohli made an unbeaten 78 to lead India to an eight-wicket win over fierce rivals Pakistan in a one-sided World Twenty20 Super Eight clash.

Earlier in the day, tournament top-scorer Shane Watson again provided a telling contribution as Australia beat South Africa by eight wickets to stay bang on course for a semi-final.

Pakistan were dismissed for their lowest ever World Twenty20 total, 128, although it represented a recovery from 60 for five at halfway.

India lost Gautam Gambhir early but Kohli powered them home with three overs to spare, backed up by the recalled Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh. Umar Akmal dropped Kohli despite a brilliant diving effort and the batsman reached his half-century from 41 balls by cutting Saeed Ajmal for his seventh four.

He also drilled him for six the ball after Yuvraj hit Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez for four, but Kohli was dropped again when Imran Nazir could not get into position quickly enough. Two boundaries followed in that over and Yuvraj hit the winning single in the next to finish 19 not out.

For the Aussies, Watson added 70 runs to Xavier Doherty’s three for 20 with the ball as Australia won their second successive Super Eight match by chasing down the Proteas’ 146 for five with 14 balls to spare.

Watson had shared a century opening stand with David Warner in Friday’s success against India, but this time lost his first-wicket partner early.

It did not faze him, though, as he reached his third half-century in four innings with his second six to go with six fours from 35 balls.

Doherty had earlier given Australia a wonderful start after they had won the toss. The slow left-armer had South Africa eight for two in the third over, Richard Levi somehow playing inside the line to be bowled leg-stump for a duck and then Jacques Kallis edging behind to go cheaply too.

Watson then saw off Hashim Amla with his medium-pace and doubled up with the big wicket of AB de Villiers when he returned for a second spell.

It was therefore only a late flurry from Robin Peterson and Farhaan Behardien, in an unbroken stand of 60, that kept South Africa competitive.