India won the toss in the opening encounter versus Pakistan in Adelaide in World Cup 2015 and scored 300 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 50 overs. They are hot favourites to defeat Pakistan.

India scored a brilliant score of 300 runs in 50 overs in their opening match against Pakistan. Pakistan bowled very well at the slog overs. Dhoni won the toss and elected to bat first. It was a very wise decision.

 

But Indian batsmen played tremendous match. Shikhar Dhawan made a tremendous 73 runs with 7 boundaries and an over-boundary. He played 76 balls and steadied the ship.

Rohit Sharma went out cheaply for 15 runs in 20 balls. He should not had opened the innings. Rahane could have been a better option. Rahane came late in the innings and scored a duck.

 

Virat Kohli was brilliant once again. He scored his 22nd century and got out with the score of 107 runs in 126 balls. His partnership with Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina gave the platform for India to score 300 runs. Kohli was very cautious and hit 8 boundaries.

 

Suresh Raina came at the middle of the innings and hammered the Pakistani spinners Afridi, Haris Sohail and Yasir Shah. His 74 runs came of 56 balls with 5 fours and a six. At one point it looked like India would post a score above 325 runs.

 

But Pakistani fast bowlers extremely well in a flat wicket of Adelaide. Sohail Khan was the best of the lot getting 5 wickets for 55 runs in 10 overs. Wahab Riaz got 1 wicket for 49 runs in 10 overs. Even Mohammad Irfan with more than 7 feet height bowled tight spells both at the beginning and the slog overs. Pakistani leg spinner Yasir Shah could not baffle the Indian batsmen. Dhoni played for very few balls but scored valuable 18 runs with a boundary and an over boundary. He should have stayed a bit longer.

 

In the past Pakistan had never scored over 262 runs in any World Cup against India batting second. So all the odds are against Pakistan in scoring the target 301 runs in 50 overs. Indian bowlers Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma and others are required to bowl well.

 

Pakistan has experienced batsmen of the calibre of Younis Khan and Misbah Ul Haque. But over all the batting is weak compared to India. Some Pakistani batsman has to do  a miracle to win the match. They are hoping for good performance from Shahid Afridi or Umar Akmal. Unless India bowls very badly there is almost no chance for Pakistan to score 301 runs in 50 overs.