Virat Kohli made another half-century as India took another step towards the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a 56-run victory over Netherlands at the SCG.
Kohli's magnificent unbeaten 82 gave India a dramatic win over Pakistan on Sunday and he followed that up with 62 from 44 balls as India posted 179-2 in Sydney on Thursday.
Captain Rohit Sharma struck 53 from 39 deliveries after being dropped by Tim Pringle on 13 and Suryakumar Yadav (51 not out off 25) also made a half-century to leave the Dutch facing a substantial run chase.
Netherlands never looked like pulling off a huge upset, falling short on 123-9 as they suffered defeat in as many Super 12 matches.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2-9) took the wicket of Vikramjit Singh and did not conceded a run in his first two overs, while Axar Patel (2-18), Ravichandran Ashwin (2-21) and Arshdeep Singh (2-37) also impressed with the ball.
Victory for India moved them a point ahead of South Africa, who hammered Bangladesh by 104 runs earlier in the day, at the top of Group 2.
Kohli goes back-to-back, Suryakumar shows his class
A Kohli masterclass gave India a sensational victory over Pakistan at the MCG and the former captain carried on where he left off in another classy knock.
He reached his half-century in 37 balls, hitting two sixes and finding the rope three times in another high-quality innings.
Suryakumar, number three in the T20I batting rankings, hit seven fours and reached his half-century by launching the final ball of the innings from Logan van Beek for six.
The brilliance of Bhuvneshwar
India also demonstrated the potency of their bowling attack and it was Bhuvneshwar who set the tone.
He bowled back-to-back maidens and cleaned up before returning to get rid of captain Scott Edwards in his second spell.
Holder's five-wicket haul wreaks havoc on T&T Red Force as Barbados Pride take command at Queens Park Oval
Chaim Holder’s five-wicket haul has put Barbados Pride in control at stumps on day one of their fourth-round West Indies Championship match at Queens Park Oval on Wednesday.
Holder was the spearhead of the Barbados attack taking 5-71 as the Red Force were bundled out for 203 in 75-3 overs. At the close, Barbados were 40-0.
Jason Mohammed spared the Red Force blushes with his score of 55 but other than Tion Webster, who contributed 46 and Joshua Da Silva 32, the other batters failed to show. Darren Bravo who has two hundreds and a 95 in the competition so far managed only seven as Trinidad crawled to 76-3 from the first 33 overs.
Jair McAllister also got in on the wickets taking 3-31 as the hosts struggled to find runs.
At the close, Barbados trail by 163 runs with all wickets intact.
Zachary McCaskie is at the crease on 21 while Sheyne Moseley is unbeaten on 19 at the other end.
Half-centuries from Powell, Gore and James guide Leewards to 271-6 against Windwards at Toruba
Half-centuries from Kieran Powell, Karima Gore and Kofi James steered Leeward Islands Hurricanes to 271-6 at stumps in their fourth-round West Indies Championship match against Windward Islands Volcanoes at Toruba on Wednesday.
Powell scored 75 and shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 42 with Jahmar Hamilton that helped rescue Hurricanes from 51-3 after Monctin Hodge (6), Akeem Saunders (0) and Devon Thomas were all back in the hutch within 17 overs.
The Leewards slipped again from 93-3 to 121 -6 as Hamilton (12), Powell and Rahkeem Cornwall 14 fell in relatively quick succession before Gore and James came together mounting an unbroken stand of 150 that took the Hurricanes to close of play.
Gore, an American, will resume on Thursday on 87 while James will pick up from 61.
Preston McSween 2-42 and Kenneth Dember 2-66 were the primary wicket takers for the Windwards.
Johnson's masterful unbeaten 142 keeps Scorpion bowlers at bay as Harpy Eagles reach 268-9 at Providence
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