NEW DELHI: If Pakistan can track down 345 with 10 balls to spare to complete the highest successful chase in World Cups, India can knock off a target of 273 with 90 balls in hand. Different opponents and different venues, but that's the message India seemed to send out ahead of their clash against Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Their crushing eight-wicket victory against Afghanistan at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday means they have two wins from two matches.
The win was crafted by Rohit Sharma's sublime 84-ball 131, dismantling a couple of formidable World Cup records in the process. The India skipper now has the fastest hundred by an Indian in World Cups (63 balls) as well as the most hundreds (7) in World Cups. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah (4/39) also had a good outing for India.
Right from the start of the chase, Sharma exuded an air of invincibility. Perhaps eager to get into the groove before the high-voltage Pakistan clash - he was out for a duck against Australia -there was no part of the ground that Sharma didn't access during his assault on the Afghan bowlers.
When the ball was full outside off, Sharma stepped out and drove aerially. When it was short, Sharma rocked back and pulled imperiously. Pace and spin were met with equal disdain, his demeanour suggesting that he was in no mood to relent on a hapless attack in batting-friendly conditions.
He took an early liking to leftarm seamer Fazalhaq Farooqi, hitting 14 runs off his third over. It included a dance down the track for a six over long off, a flick towards square leg for four and a text-book drive through covers for another boundary. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi didn't take him off the attack and suffered more agony. The leftarmer's next over went for 17, all of them coming off Sharma's bat.
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