India thrash Pakistan to seal super eight spot

By Razeen Gutta

India booked their place in the ICC T20 World Cup super eight with a commanding 61‑run victory over arch‑rivals Pakistan in Colombo on Sunday.

After being put in to bat, India posted 175/7, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s explosive 77 off 40 balls, laced with three sixes and ten fours.

Kishan’s onslaught gave India a blistering start; and despite the difficulty that batting on the surface provided, captain Suryakumar Yadav (32) and Shivam Dube (27) kept the scoreboard ticking.

Pakistan’s chase never recovered from a disastrous start.

Hardik Pandya struck with the first ball, removing Sahibzada Farhan for a duck before Jasprit Bumrah’s double blow in the second over reduced them to 13/3.

Axar Patel’s spin then dismantled the top order, dismissing Babar Azam for 5.

Usman Khan’s resilient 44 offered brief hope, but his dismissal triggered a collapse and Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs.

The win extends India’s unbeaten record against Pakistan in World Cups to eight of the last nine T20 meetings and leaves the men in blue comfortable at the top of Group A.

In the day’s other results, West Indies powered past Nepal by nine wickets before the USA beat Namibia by 31 runs.

Pictured above: India

Source: @bcci