Mahendra Singh Dhoni Hits Perfect Ten as India Brush Aside Zimbabwe in World Cup

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on Saturday, joined forces with Suresh Raina to help India maintain their unbeaten run in the ongoing World Cup with a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in Auckland in their final Pool B game. India and co-hosts New Zealand are the only teams that are going into the last-eight stage without a loss against their names.

Dhoni, who joined Suresh Raina at the crease after India were reduced to 92 for four chasing a challenging 288, scored 85 not out off 76 balls to see India home. The win gave Dhoni his 10th victory on-the-trot in the World Cup, overtaking Clive Lloyd's tally of nine between 1975 and 1999. The Indian captain is now second behind Ricky Ponting's tally of 24 consecutive victories. (Full World Cup Coverage | Points Table)

The key for India's victory over Zimbabwe was the partnership between the Captain 'Cool' and Raina (110 not out). The duo put on an unbroken stand of 196 runs - India's highest World Cup partnership for the 5th wicket and their highest for any wicket in a successful chase in the World Cup. (Dhoni Hails India's Ability to Handle Pressure)

India's previous highest partnership for in a successful chase was 174 (first wicket) between Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma against Ireland at Hamilton on March 10, 2015.

A delighted Dhoni insisted the extensive workout will help them in the knockout rounds.

"I think it couldn't have been better in the sense if you're playing the last game of the league stage, and if you get an easy win, you don't get a lot out of that game," said Dhoni. (Highlights | Match in Pics)

Statistical highlights of the match:

# Dhoni is the first Indian captain to register two fifty-plus innings in successful chases - 91 not out vs Sri Lanka (final) at Mumbai on April 2,2011 and 85 not out vs Zimbabwe at Auckland on March 14, 2015.

# As captain, Dhoni is averaging 58.14 in World Cups - his tally being 407 in twelve innings, including two fifties. (Dhoni's Aura Bigger Than Sachin's in Team India)

# Dhoni's 85 not out is his highest ODI score vs Zimbabwe - his third fifty against them. He is averaging 208.00 against Zimbabwe - his tally being 208 in three innings, with successive fifties - 56 on August 29, 2005 and 67 not out on September 4, 2005 - both at Harare and 85 not out, as above.

# Dhoni has completed his 5000 runs in a winning cause - 5048 (ave.74.23) in 145 matches. His tally includes six hundreds and 34 fifties. (Raina Glad to Deliver When it Mattered Most)

# India's previous highest fifth-wicket partnership in World Cup was 141 between Robin Singh and Ajay Jadeja vs Australia at The Oval on June 4, 1999.

# The unbroken 196-run partnership is India's second highest for the fifth wicket in ODIs, next only to the 223 vs Sri Lanka at Colombo, RPS on August 17, 1997.

# The aforesaid partnership is India's sixth highest in World Cups for any wicket. The said stand is India's highest World Cup partnership for any wicket vs Zimbabwe - their highest fifth-wicket partnership vs Zimbabwe in ODIs.

# Raina-Dhoni pair is averaging 62.14 as a pair - their aggregate being 3480 in 66 innings, including nine hudreds and 17 fifties. The pair is the only one to have maintained an average of 60-plus (minimum 3000 runs).

(With inputs from Rajesh Kumar)