By a Staff Reporter
Agency – Virat Kohli’s masterclass drove India to a winning start in ICC T20 World Cup after a thrilling win over neighbors India in Melbourne on Sunday.
India registered a 4 wicket win in the last ball of the match despite a slow start chasing 160 runs to win. Kohli starred with an excellent batting display scoring 82 runs off 53 deliveries. He scored 6 fours and 4 sixes. Kohli and Hardik Pandya added 113 runs for fourth wicket to lay foundation.
India were 31-4 in the seventh over before the duo built the innings. Kohli struggled at the start scoring just 11 runs off 20 balls. But he scored 71 runs off next 33 deliveries. Pandya added 40 runs off 37 balls. Mohammad Nawaz and Haris Rauf took two wickets each but they could not defend 31 runs off last 2 overs.
Earlier, Pakistan scored 159/8 after being asked to bat first. Shan Masood top scored with 52 runs off 42 balls. Ifthikar Ahmed added 51 runs to accelerate the run rate. He hit 2 fours and 4 sixes facing 34 balls. Arshdeep Singh took 3 wickets for India.
India will face Netherlands next on Thursday. Pakistan will play Zimbabwe on the same day.