There is a pattern in India-Pakistan World Cup matches:

• At least one Pakistani cricketer will put up a stellar performance in the first innings, be it Saeed Anwar’s brilliant century at Centurion or Sohail Khan’s fifer at the Adelaide Oval.
• There will be a twist at the end of the first innings – whether it is Jadeja in 1996 firing away or the Pakistani seamers today arresting the scoring momentum.
• Reviews of borderline decisions will go in India’s favour.
• Pakistan will give at least one reprieve to India’s top batsman.
• If Pakistan is chasing, they will be well in control till the 15th over. But, when the batsman in rhythm gets out, the situation will immediately become dire.
• And finally, the men in blue will emerge triumphant, never mind how miserable their recent form has been.

Some other patterns were broken, though.

India’s highest scorer actually hit a century and the 300-run mark was breached, if only just.

The Pakistan chase began on a sombre note, with the experiment of opening with Younis Khan backfiring. Younis was squaring up to the swinging ball and his quick dismissal will only increase the clamour for his head in Pakistan.