Virat Kohli was in sight of his third century in four innings as India's powerful batting line-up kept them on course in their big chase. Pakistan were playing five bowlers but India worked around the threat of Saeed Ajmal and Umar Gul by targetting the others. Until Ajmal dismissed Sachin Tendulkar, batting with immense freedom, for 52, he and Kohli were threatening to run away with the game.
Tendulkar and Kohli outdid each other in stroke-making. Their second-wicket partnership was worth 133 in just 19.1 overs. While Gul and Ajmal were given the respect they deserved, the shorter lengths of Wahab Riaz and Aizaz Cheema were taken for runs. As was the quicker pace of Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan struck gold off the second ball of the innings when Mohammad Hafeez trapped Gautam Gambhir in front but Tendulkar and Kohli were unbothered. The 100th century finally done with, Tendulkar was totally unrestrained and went along at a faster clip than Kohli.
India found momentum in the third over, Cheema's second, which went for 12. Kohli began with a violent pull while Tendulkar's back-foot punch past cover was vintage. Pakistan had just started to suffer for bowling the wrong lengths. Cheema continued to be short of a good length, and Tendulkar brought out another vintage with a sly guide over slips that flew for six.
Tendulkar and Kohli dealt with the spinners in their own ways when they needed the boundaries. Tendulkar carted Hafeez over midwicket with a slog-sweep; Kohli whipped Afridi through the same region.
Riaz's three-over spell put Pakistan under even more pressure. Not only did he bowl short, he kept on targeting Kohli's pads and the batsman helped himself to several fours on the on side.
Tendulkar misread an Ajmal doosra after reaching his fifty and ended up edging it to slip, but Kohli was looking nearly unstoppable.
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