Kohli ton guides India to 300/7 against Pakistan

Adelaide, Feb 15 (IANS) A splendid century by vice captain Virat Kohli guided India to 300/7 in their World Cup opening match against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval here Sunday.

Backed by two century-run stands, India were cruising at 273/2 in the 45th over when Pakistan came back strongly to take five wickets and restrict the defending champions to only 300/7 in 50 overs, with the last five overs yielding only 27 runs.

At the start, Pakistani pacers Mohammed Irfan (0/58) and Sohail Khan (5/55) bowled a good line. 

Despite that, India got off to a fluent start with openers Rohit Sharma (15) and Shikhar Dhawan (73). Rohit looked in prime touch until he gave away his wicket while trying to pull a not-so-short-delivery.

However, Dhawan struck a strong second-wicket 129-run partnership with Kohli (107). Dhawan looked good to score a hundred but confusion with Kohli in the 30th over caused his run out.

Pakistan could have capitalised on Dhawan's wicket but left-handed batsman Suresh Raina (74) had other ideas. His 56-ball innings was laden with five fours and three sixes as India's run rate almost touched run-a-ball.

Kohli looked in sublime touch as he went on to notch his 22nd One-Day International (ODI) hundred, studded with eight boundaries. This is also the first century by an Indian against Pakistan in a World Cup match.

A five-wicket haul by pacer Sohail Khan helped Pakistan restrict India to 300 for seven in a Pool B clash of the ICC World Cup at the Adelaide Oval here Sunday.

Virat Kohli's 107 and half-centuries from Suresh Raina (74) and Shikhar Dhawan (73) put India on course for a big score. 

But the defending champions lost five wickets for just 27 runs in the final five overs to just reach the 300-mark.