Pakistan, chasing 337 to win, were dealt an early blow as Vijay Shankar struck in the fifth over to remove the dangerous Imam-ul-Haq for 7. Pakistan initially found the going hard after Shankar’s strike but both Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam steadily brought their team on track.

Fakhar and Babar led Pakistan’s recovery with a 104-run stand for the second wicket. But just when it seemed that Pakistan would give India a tough fight, Kuldeep Yadav struck twice to get rid of both Fakhar (62) and Babar (48).

Hardik Pandya increased Pakistan’s woes with two wickets in two balls, first removing Mohammad Hafeez (9) and then Shoaib Malik (0).

From then on in, it was all India as the bowlers put the squeeze on Pakistan batsmen. With runs coming at a premium for Pakistan, it seemed only a matter of time that India would strike again. And it came in the form of Vijay Shankar, who scalped his second wicket of the World Cup by sending Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed packing for 12.

Rain gods disrupted India’s march towards a third win with Pakistan reeling at 166 for six in 35 overs.

The match was reduced to 40 overs with Pakistan set an improbable total, In the end, Pakistan finished with 212 for six way short of the revised target.

Rohit, Kohli show

Earlier, India’s 336 for five featured opener Rohit Sharma’s 140 — his second hundred in three innings this tournament — and captain Virat Kohli’s 77.

Kohli became the quickest player to 11,000 one-day international runs, getting there in 222nd innings as compared to compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s previous record of 276 innings.

Pakistan left-arm quick Mohammad Amir was his side’s only threat with three for 47 despite two early warnings for running on the pitch.

Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul (57) got India off to a fine start with a first-wicket stand of 137 after Pakistan won the toss.

Their efforts were all the more impressive as they were opening together for the first time at this level.

Regular opener Shikhar Dhawan was sidelined with a thumb injury sustained while making a century in a victory over champions Australia last time out.

Rohit Sharma, who made 122 in India’s opening win over South Africa and 57 against Australia, went to fifty with a six over long-on and a cut four off successive deliveries from recalled leg-spinner Shadab Khan.

Rahul fell soon after getting to fifty when he holed out tamely off left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz, who struck one ball after receiving two official warnings in consecutive deliveries for running on the pitch.

Rohit Sharma went into the 90s with an extraordinary square-cut six over paceman Hasan Ali.

Then a single off Shadab saw him to an 85-ball hundred including three sixes and nine fours. It was Sharma’s 24th ODI century.

But a quickfire stand of 98 with Kohli ended when Sharma, trying a needlessly extravagant scoop, flicked Hasan Ali short fine leg.

Kohli, 71 not out at the start of a near hour-long rain break, fell soon after the resumption when, trying to hook Amir, he ‘walked’ for a catch behind by Pakistan captain and wicket-keeper Sarfaraz Ahmed despite replays appearing to show he didn’t hit the ball.

(With AFP Inputs)