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Pakistan fail to break India jinx in World Cup

Pakistan failed to handle the pressure of a World Cup and went down by 76 runs in a high-profile Pool B World Cup game in Adelaide, making it six losses in as many games in the mega event.

Despite a great pull back by the bowlers led by Sohail Khan (5-58) which helped Pakistan restrict India's fast rising total to 300-7 but wickets fell in quick succession as skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was left to fight a lone battle with 76 but in the end Pakistan needed as much as the skipper scored.

Pakistan had to use out of form Younis Khan as opener to accommodate both talented batsmen Umar Akmal and Sohaib Maqsood as well as a fifth regular bowler in leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

It all went in vain as Shah concede 60 in his nine overs while Umar and Maqsood failed to score.

Younis also flopped, seventh time on this tour, leaving a big question mark on his place.

Ahmed Shehzad (47) and Haris Sohail (36)  batted steadily before a three-wicket blitz in two overs at the halfway mark of the innings left Pakistan struggling at 103 for five.

Misbah and Shahid Afridi (22) tried to pull things back during their partnership but Pakistan lost Afridi and Wahab Riaz in the same over.

Indian seamer Mohammed Shami took four for 35.

It was Virat Kohli who hit a brilliant 107 to help India post 300 after electing to bat but Pakistan pulled things back as India managed just 27 in the last five slog overs.

Pakistan's lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan looked out of sorts as he barged into the restricted area and got two warnings and came close to be suspended from bowling in the match after bowling a couple of waist high deliveries.

India were given a firm platform by Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan.

Kohli added 129 with Dhawan (73) and another 110 for the third wicket with Suresh Raina who made 74.

A sell-out crowd of over 47,000 watched the game with green Pakistani shirts matching the blues of India at the Adelaide ground. In a game being beamed to an estimated 2.5 billion across the world.

Pakistan gave two chances to Kohli as Yasir Shah dropped him on three and then Umar Akmal letting him off at 76, allowing the Delhi batsman to notch his 22nd one-day hundred, the first century by an Indian in World Cup matches against Pakistan.

The previous best by an Indian against Pakistan in a World Cup tie was Sachin Tendulkar's 98 at Centurion in 2003.

Kohli was finally caught by Akmal in the 46th over, Raina holed out in the deep in the 48th before three wickets fell at the score of 296 as Pakistani bowlers led by Sohail and ably assisted by Wahab Riaz pulled back the score.

Sharma and Dhawan gave India a steady start of 34 before Raina top-edged an intented pull off hard-working seamer Sohail and was caught at mid-off.

Sohail was economical in his first spell conceded just 15 runs in his first five overs and bowled with guile in the last four.

The victory gives defending champions an ideal as they gained good confidence for their second match against South Africa in Melbourne on Sunday.

Pakistan will have to regroup for their second game against the West Indies in Christchurch on Saturday.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq blamed poor batting.

"It was a pressure game and on a good batting wicket we kept them to 300 which was a good effort but losing three wickets quickly did not do any good to us."

This is Pakistan's fifth defeat while chasing in a World Cup game against India.

Indian captain MS Dhoni praised his bowlers.

"I think a gap of eight days helped us regroup and the way bowlers bowled was disciplined and its good to get the ideal start in a pressure game."