Rohit Sharma’s maiden World Cup century laid the foundations for India to progress to the semi-finals with a commanding 109-run victory over Bangladesh.
The Indian opener plundered 137 off 126 balls, with 14 fours and three sixes, but was given a let-off on 90 when a questionable no-ball ruling went in his favour.
Suresh Raina contributed a valuable 65 at better than a run a ball as the holders reached an imposing 302 for six at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A steady stream of wickets falling meant Bangladesh never really stood a chance of reaching their victory target, with six of their top eight passing 20 but no-one exceeding Nasir Hossain's 35, and they were all out for 193 to herald Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 100th win in one-day internationals as India captain.
It was also an 11th straight victory in the World Cup for Dhoni's men, who will now face either Australia or fierce rivals Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground next Thursday.
After Dhoni won the toss, Indian openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan settled warmly to their task.
They put on 75 until Shakib Al Hasan finally made the breakthrough, with Dhawan stumped after scoring 30.
Dangerman Virat Kohli followed in the next over when he drove a full ball from Rubel Hossain behind, and Ajinkya Rahane fell by mistiming a drive off Taskin Ahmed shortly after Rohit had raised his half-century.
At 115 for three, India appeared to be wobbling but Rohit and the in-form Raina brought a sense of calm to proceedings, steadily accumulating initially before accelerating masterfully in the powerplay overs.
Rohit appeared to have fallen short of a ton when he clubbed a full-toss off Rubel to deep midwicket, but he was given a second life when the umpire ruled the ball was above his waist when he hit it, even though television replays suggested otherwise.
It was a crucial let-off for the 27-year-old, and one he made full use of by bringing up his sixth ODI century with a push through the covers in the 42nd over.
Raina, who made a superb ton against Zimbabwe in India’s last match, had earlier brought up his fifty before top-edging behind soon after, but some destructive hitting from Rohit lifted India towards a decent total.
He was finally out for a tremendous 137 – his second three-figure score at the MCG this year, having made 138 against Australia in the Tri-Series in January.
The Tigers’ reply started well enough, with Tamim Iqbal thumping three fours in an over off Mohammed Shami but the left-hander perished for 25 after chasing a wide one from Umesh Yadav, succeeding in only edging behind.
Fellow opener Imrul Kayes was run out off the very next ball before Mahmudullah, who had recorded back-to-back centuries in his last two matches, and Soumya Sarkar were both snared by Shami.
From then on, wickets fell at regular intervals and although Nasir and Sabbir Rahman put on a half-century partnership for the seventh wicket, it was mere consolation for the Tigers.
Yadav, who finished pick of the bowlers with 4-31, took two wickets in the space of three balls, Rahman the last man out for 30 as Bangladesh subsided inside 45 overs.
India have bowled out every side they have faced so far in this tournament and it is an area that impresses Dhoni.
That win for @BCCI was @msdhoni's 100th ODI victory as captain #CWC15#fireituppic.twitter.com/oSNcDwiPyu
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) March 19, 2015
“We were struggling with that, but now we are doing much better,” he said. “It's difficult to pin-point how it changed.
“Just like a batsman out of form gets back into form, cricket has a lot of abstracts, but we need to do a lot of the small things right. Put in the intensity and hope it all turns out.”
Man-of-the-match Rohit added: “I was determined, I wanted to bat as long as possible and put the team into a good situation and the bowlers did a fantastic job.
“We played as a team. Bowlers are taking wickets, batsmen are scoring runs, we just need to take this momentum into the semis.”