Virat Kohli struck yet another century for India, who began their Pool B campaign with their biggest World Cup win over Pakistan.
The defending champions eased home by 76 runs, after Kohli set things up with 107 – the first Indian World Cup hundred against Pakistan - backed by half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina.
India had limped to 300 for seven after Pakistan’s Sohail Khan grabbed figures of 5-55, which included two in the final over, though the run chase only ever showed glimpses of success.
Ahmed Shehzad appeared to be over his minor pre-match injury scare, as he made 47 and captain Misbah-ul-Haq provided another rescue effort with 76.
However, four wickets from Mohammed Shami, including that of Misbah, did the damage in the end as Pakistan were all out for 224, taking India’s World Cup head-to-head record against their arch-rivals to 6-0.
Kohli and Dhawan had to first dig India out of a small hole, after Rohit Sharma was caught by Misbah off Sohail in the eighth over, and the duo were happy to build patiently.
The 129-run partnership had some fortune as Kohli was dropped early in his innings by Yasir Shah, but Dhawan’s luck ran out, literally, as he was caught short of his ground when on 73.
Pakistan continued to toil though, as Raina went on the attack, hitting five fours and three sixes for his 74, in what was another century stand with Kohli at 110.
With India looking on course for well over 300, the men in green finally fought back, Sohail returning to get rid of Kohli, who reached century number 22 in ODI cricket, and then Raina, both falling to attempted slogs.
Wahab Riaz then bowled Ravindra Jadeja in the penultimate over, and India barely got to 300 after Sohail despatched Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane in successive deliveries in the last.
Pakistan too suffered an early loss as new Yorkshire signing Younus Khan’s poor form continued, caught behind off Shami, but the chase showed plenty of promise, thanks to Shehzad.
He and Haris Sohail combined for 68 in nearly 15 overs, before the latter fell to Ravichandran Ashwin for 36.
The Pakistan mini-collapse saw Shehzad and Sohaib Maqsood out in the 24th over – paceman Umesh Yadav having both caught when the team was on 102, and just one run was added before Umar Akmal was caught behind off Jadeja.
Misbah had been fighting a lone battle, bludgeoning nine fours in his 118-ball innings, but Shahid Afridi’s wicket signalled the beginning of the end at 149 for six.
Misbah clung on until the 45th over - after stringing 49 together with Shah - before succumbing to Shami late on. The final ball of the 47th was also the final nail in Pakistan’s coffin, as Mohit Sharma, who saw off Shah earlier, ended Sohail’s stay at the crease.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) February 15, 2015