Tendulkar Masterclass Sees India Through

India joined Group A leaders Australia in the World Cup Super Sixes after Sachin Tendulkar's ferocious batting guided them to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan today.

Tendulkar smashed 98 from 75 balls, shrugging off a left thigh strain as India chased down Pakistan's 273 for seven at the packed SuperSport Park.

Tendulkar punished the Pakistan attack after being dropped on 32 and 88. Strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar eventually got rid of Tendulkar two short of a record fifth World Cup hundred, but Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh, with a half-century, shepherded India home with a 99-run unbroken partnership.

The victory gave India 20 points from their six group games. Australia, already guaranteed top place, also have 20 with one game to go. Pakistan, Zimbabwe and England will fight it out over the third qualifying place.

Pakistan opener Saeed Anwar had struck 101 for his first one-day hundred in two-and-a-half years to keep his team in the hunt after captain Waqar Younis elected to bat first.

But Tendulkar shared in a 102-run third wicket partnership with Mohammad Kaif (35) after Waqar had struck off successive balls to reduce India to 53 for two in the sixth over.

The experienced paceman removed opener Virender Sehwag for a 14-ball 21 before trapping Saurav Ganguly lbw for a golden duck.

But Tendulkar kept up his extraordinary World Cup run, now tallying 469 runs. He has top-scored in each of India's six games. He also crossed 12,000 one-day runs on Saturday.