Dominant India thrash rivals Pakistan in Colombo

T20 World Cup, Group A, Colombo

India 175-7 (20 overs): Kishan 77 (40); Ayub 3-25

Pakistan 114 (18 overs): Usman 44 (34); Hardik 2-16, Chakravarthy 2-17, Bumrah 2-17

India won by 61 runs

India continued their recent on-field dominance over Pakistan by winning their highly anticipated meeting in Colombo by 61 runs to confirm their place in the Super 8s of the T20 World Cup.

After weeks of discussion and doubt over whether the match would even go ahead, India ultimately proved too strong and sealed a ninth successive win in completed matches against their rivals.

Although the captains did not shake hands at the toss and there were no exchanges between the players after the final play, the rest of the match passed without any flashpoints amid the ongoing political tensions between the two nations and last year's military conflict.

The encounter was effectively won by a brutal early assault by India opener Ishan Kishan, who struck 77 from 40 balls on a tricky, turning pitch.

It gave co-hosts a flying start and meant, even with Pakistan's plethora of spinners slowing the scoring and taking wickets, they still posted 175-7.

That always felt a challenging total and Hardik Pandya took a wicket in the first over of the chase and Jasprit Bumrah two in the second to all but confirm the result.

Usman Khan struck some blows in making 44 but Pakistan were swept aside - all out for 114 in 18 overs.

While India are now certain to progress as they attempt to retain the title won in 2024, Pakistan must beat Namibia on Wednesday to guarantee their place in the Super 8s.

Should they do so, the rivals could yet meet again in this competition in a semi-final or final.

An underwhelming and one-sided night

For a while it looked like this match would not happen.

Pakistan, whose last win against India was at the Asia Cup in 2022, announced a boycott a week before the tournament began, only to reverse their decision at the start of this week after extensive talks.

It went ahead, in front of a large crowd weighted towards Indian blue, because it is the most lucrative fixture in the world game, providing the funds upon which cricket's ecosystem survives in its current imperfect state.

How long that remains the case given India's dominance, built from their cricketing and financial might, remains to be seen.

Kishan's assault gave India breathing space and their bowlers were ruthless, even if their fielders dropped three catches.

After Pakistan's seamers went the distance, Hardik began with a wicket maiden - dismissing right-hander Sahibzada Farhan, who skewed a pull shot high to mid-on.

In the next over, the majestic Bumrah pinned left-hander Saim Ayub in front with full inswinger, before Pakistan Salman Agha holed out playing a wild slog.

Even Pakistan's biggest name, Babar Azam, was tamely bowled for five attempting a swipe to left-arm spinner Axar Patel in the fifth over, while left-handers Mohammed Nawaz and Faheem Ashraf meekly picked out fielders in the deep.

After all of the build-up this was another underwhelming meeting.

Kishan a class above

Kishan's innings was an outlier across the match. He scored at a strike-rate of 192.50 per 100 balls. Only one other batter to face more than five deliveries, Shivam Dube - who made 27 from 17 balls - went at more than 130.

Of the first 88 runs in the match, 77 came off the bat of Kishan as he made his second 50 in a row at this World Cup.

He was fortunate to chip three swings into gaps but otherwise hit cleanly in all directions until he was bowled by Ayub in the ninth over.

Switching through six different spinners, Pakistan's fightback came too late with mystery spinner Usman Tariq held back too long.

Ayub had Tilak Verma lbw for a stodgy 25 from 24 balls before Hardik hit his next ball to long-off. Had Ayub's hat-trick ball not narrowly missed Dube's edge and stumps after turning sharply, Pakistan may have had a better chance.

Their decision to bowl first also seemed a misstep, with the ball skidding through later on.

Dube was left to push India beyond 150 which was probably a par total in the conditions.

In truth, little went right for Pakistan.