BirminghamStunning batting performance from skipper Virat Kohli and veteran all-rounder Yuvraj Singh leads India to a thumping runs victory over below per Pakistan at Edgbaston on Sunday.
After being put in to bat first, defending champions had to face frustration over numerous interruptions due to rain, which reduced their innings to 48 overs.
A 136-run opening partnership from Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan led the foundation for Kohli and Yuvraj, as the duo added 93 runs off just 58 balls for the third wicket to help India post mammoth total 319 runs for the loss of three wickets.
Kohli scored unbeaten 81 off 68, which included six fours and three sixes, whereas Yuvraj scored breath-taking 53 off 32 balls, which featured eight fours and one six.
Rohit finished the innings with the top score of 91 off 116 balls, which comprised of seven fours and two sixes.
For Pakistan, young leg-spinner Shadab Khan and pacer Hasan Ali claimed one wicket each.
Chasing a revised target 324, Pakistans innings was also interrupted by rain after a slow start. The interruption saw their target revised to 289 in 41 overs.
However, clueless batting performance from the likes of Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali and Ahmad Shahzad left too much for the lower order to do, as the Men in Green were eventually bowled out for 164 in the 34thover.
Azhar finished the innings with a laboured innings of 50 off 65 balls, which featured six boundaries.
For India, pacer Umesh Yadav claimed three, whereas all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets each.
Presentation:
Sarfraz Ahmed: We had everything in control till the 40th over, but they scored too many runs in last eight overs. We really need to control our bowling performance especially in the last overs.
Virat Kohli: I must admit that we were right up there in batting and bowling. It was a really strong performance, but we still need to work on fielding. Really pleased with how everyone chipped in with the bat.
Yuvraj Singh (Man of the match): We batted really well to be honest. Openers laid a great foundation, and Virat finished amazingly. I was a bit lucky that I was dropped, but I capitalised on it and kept backing myself.
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