BIRMINGHAM – India thrashed Pakistan by 124 runs in the arch-rivals’ ICC Champions Trophy opener at Edgbaston on Sunday.
Pakistan, set a revised target of 289 in 41 overs following three rain interruptions, finished on 164, with injured last man Wahab Riaz unable to bat as India won with 44 balls to spare.
India had previously piled up 319/3 in 48 overs after Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss.
Rohit Sharma top-scored with 91, and put on 136 for the first wicket with Shikhar Dhawan (68).
India captain Virat Kohli made 81 not out, sharing a quick-fire third-wicket stand with Yuvraj Singh (53) as Pakistan paid a heavy price for dropping both batsmen.
India plundered 72 runs in their final four overs as Pakistan’s attack wilted.
Pakistan got off to a reasonable start, with Azhar Ali and Ahmed Shehzad putting on 47 for the opening stand.
But once Shehzad was dismissed lbw by Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 12, it went downhill from there.
India’s Virat Kohli at the end of the innings. Photo: Reuters
Apart from Azhar’s 50 off 65 balls, only Mohammad Hafeez (33 off 43 deliveries) went past the 15-run mark as paceman Umesh Yadav claimed 3/30, while Ravidra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya both returned figures of 2/43 as Pakistan collapsed to 164 all out in 33.4 overs.
Pakistan next take on South Africa at Edgbaston on Wednesday (2.30pm SA time start), while India face Sri Lanka on Thursday at The Oval.