Middle-order batsmen Mohammad Kaif and Rahul Dravid shared an unbeaten century partnership on Friday to guide India to a comfortable seven wicket win over New Zealand.
Kaif scored 68 and Dravid 53, after India had survived some early scares, to take their side to victory with overs to spare.
Fast bowler Shane Bond was again the dangerman as the New Zealanders, who needed victory to ensure a semifinal place, reduced the Indians to 21 for three, including the prize wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for 15.
The Kiwis should have had a fourth wicket but wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum dropped a straightforward chance from Rahul Dravid off Shane Bond when he had scored only one.
Bond, who captured six for 23 against Australia, worked up a tremendous pace to dismiss Virender Sehwag for one and captain Saurav Ganguly for three. Tendulkar struck Daryl Tuffey for three consecutive fours then threw his bat at a delivery outside the off-stump and slashed the ball to Jacob Oram who took a smart low catch at point.
New Zealand was dismissed in 45.1 overs after being asked to bat by Ganguly.
Left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan took four for 42 after dismissing Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle for ducks with consecutive deliveries in his first over.
He returned to capture his 100th one-day international wicket by bowling McCullum for four then trapped Chris Harris lbw for 17.
Only captain Stephen Fleming with 30 from 59 balls stood firm against the impressive India pace attack, although Chris Cairns looked briefly capable of resurrecting the innings before he was caught for 20.
Ganguly's decision to bowl was immediately vindicated when McMillan turned his second delivery to Harbhajan Singh at square-leg.
Astle was lbw playing across the line for his second consecutive duck of the tournament. Scott Styris off-drove his first ball for two, then played the ball crisply to leg for a boundary. He followed up with a single off the last ball. 7-2, 1 over.
Ganguly replaced Khan with Ashish Nehra who started with a maiden. Nehra started with a maiden then moved the ball away late from Styris off the pitch with the first delivery of his second over and the tall New Zealander was out for 15, edging an easy catch to Dravid behind the stumps.
Daryl Tuffey opened his account with four through the covers then smacked a short delivery from Tendulkar to the boundary. Oram reached 23 before playing an ugly cross-batted swipe against against occasional off spinner Sehwag.
The ball bounced off his pad on to the stumps. 146-9, 45 overs.
RSS