India clobber Pakistan to stay in World T20 India

Virat Kohli and cancer survivor Yuvraj Singh starred as India thrashed arch-rivals Pakistan by eight wickets Sunday to stay alive in the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.India, who would have been knocked out of the tournament had they lost, skittled Pakistan for 128 on a slow pitch and then surpassed the modest target in 17 overs, thanks largely to Kohli’s unbeaten 78 off 61 balls.

A sell-out crowd of 35,000 at Colombo’s Premadasa stadium, including Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, saw India continue their stranglehold on Pakistan in major world meets. Pakistan have never beaten India in either the 50-over World Cup or the World Twenty20, in which they contested a thrilling final in 2007.

Sunday’s match was only the third Twenty20 international between the two countries and the result set up a thrilling shoot-out for the two semi-final berths from group two.

AFP