South Africa opens with Cricket World Cup win over Zimbabwe

Another match, another easy win for one opponent over another at the Cricket World Cup.

Defending champion India extended its winning streak over regional rival Pakistan to six matches at the World Cup with a lopsided 76-run victory Sunday at the Adelaide Oval. For Pakistan, it was another major disappointment at the showpiece event for the one-day version of the game.

The Indian innings was led by Virat Kohli, who scored 107 to guide his team to 300-7. In the process, he became the first Indian batsman to score a century against Pakistan at the World Cup. Pakistan was all out for 224 in reply, slumping badly after losing three quick wickets in the middle overs.

''It's probably one of the biggest I've had in my career so far,'' Kohli said of the importance of his innings. ''Amazing way for us to kick off the World Cup. It's a high-pressure game. Good to get that win under the belt.''

The first World Cup meeting between the fierce rivals was in 1992 - the last time the tournament was co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand - and India has continued its winning sequence in head-to-head World Cup matches since then.

''Yes, we're proud of what we've done,'' India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said. ''The record is good, but it's something I don't want to get into - there'll come a time when we lose, irrespective of it's this World Cup, next. It's not something that will stay,'' forever.

Earlier Sunday, a record-breaking partnership of 256 between David Miller and J.P. Duminy led South Africa to a 62-run win over Zimbabwe. The Proteas scored 339-4, led by Miller's fast-paced innings of 138 off 92 balls, which included 30 runs off one over and a World Cup record nine sixes. Duminy added an unbeaten 115.

On the opening day Saturday, four-time champion Australia beat England by 111 runs and co-host New Zealand defeated 1996 champion Sri Lanka by 98 runs.

Zimbabwe began its chase well in Hamilton but was all out for 277. Hamilton Masakadza scored 80 and combined with Chamu Chibhabha (64) in a 105-run stand to give Zimbabwe a chance, before South Africa spinner Imran Tahir (3-36) stifled the run chase.

In the only match Monday, the West Indies will play Ireland at Nelson, New Zealand.

Captain William Porterfield has played in all three of Ireland's World Cup campaigns and says that no one is likely to underestimate its ability to beat top eight teams.

The left-handed batsman was a member of Ireland teams that beat fourth-ranked Pakistan at the 2007 World Cup and England at the 2011 tournament and he says if Ireland was to beat the West Indies ''I don't think it will be a surprise. We've played enough cricket. There are not many teams that won't know much about the 15 lads who are in our squad.''

Ireland beat Bangladesh in its final warmup match in Sydney while the West Indies lineup was fully stretched to beat Scotland by three runs.

The six-week tournament features 42 pool matches which will reduce the event from 14 teams to eight, then just seven more games which will whittle those eight teams to two for the March 29 final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.