Pakistan crumble to Kohli

Mohammad Hafeez: also reached three figures, putting on 224 with his fellow opener

Nasir Jamshed: hit his maiden one-day century for his country

The India batsman put on stands of 133 and 172 for the second and third wickets

Virat Kohli: plundered 183 from just 148 deliveries, hitting 22 fours and a six

Virat Kohli smashed a superb 183 to lead India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in a high-scoring Asia Cup clash in Mirpur.

The first meeting of the two nations since their World Cup semi-final last year turned out to be a thriller, with India coming out on top to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

Openers Mohammad Hafeez (105) and Nasir Jamshed (112) both hit centuries to help Pakistan amass 329-6 after opting to bat first.

However their efforts were not enough, Kohli hammering 22 fours and a six in a stunning 148-ball knock that helped his side get home with 13 balls to spare.

Early arrival

The right-hander had arrived at the crease in the very first over of India's reply after Gautam Gambhir had gone lbw to Hafeez for a second-ball duck.

Sachin Tendulkar, fresh from scoring his 100th international hundred against Bangladesh on Friday, helped put on 133 for the second wicket, scoring a breezy 52.

The Little Master hit a six and five boundaries before he was caught at first slip by Younus Khan off spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Yet the breakthrough didn't slow down Kohl in the slightest. He found another able ally in Rohit Sharma, the pair combining in a third-wicket alliance of 172.

By the time it was finally ended, Sharma holing out to deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Umar Gul for 68, India were well within sight of victory.

Sadly Kohli couldn't quite see the job through either, hitting Gul straight to point with India needing just 12. Instead Suresh Raina (12 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (4no) finished off proceedings.

Certain finalists

Despite suffering a first defeat Pakistan are still certain of being in the final of the four-team event. They had been given the perfect platform in their innings earlier in the day by their opening pair, who put on a stand worth 224.

Jamshed hit 10 fours and a six to record his maiden ODI ton before Ravichandran Ashwin finally made the breakthrough for India in the 36th over, Irfan Pathan taking the catch at short third man.

Hafeez, who struck nine boundaries and a six in his 113-ball innings, went in the next over, Ashok Dinda getting an lbw dismissal as the batsman attempted a sweep.

Umar Akmal came in to add 28 in a hurry while Younus managed a quickfire 52 from a mere 34 balls, both eventually perishing to Praveen Kumar (2-77).

India have to wait for the result of the final group game between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to see if they will face Pakistan again.

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