Malik’s 128 came of 126 balls - including 16 fours as the Twenty20 champions - set a formidable target of 302. The result means Pakistan have now effectively qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament.
At one stage, India looked on course for victory with veteran Rahul Dravid the mainstay of the Indian innings, hitting a patient 76 off 103 balls. However some tidy bowling by spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal eventually led to the batting demise of the Indians.
The Pakistan innings began with both openers starting positively, with Imran Nazir making 20 off just 17 balls, before attempting a wild lofted on-drive only to be caught by Harbhajan Singh.
Kamran Akmal soon followed and when skipper Younis Khan was caught behind on 20, Pakistan soon found themselves in trouble on 65-3 after 15 overs.
The former skipper then joined Mohammed Yousuf (87) at the crease, as the pair recovered the innings putting on 206 for the fourth wicket. A flurry of wickets fell towards the end with Ashish Nehra pick of the Indian bowlers claiming 4-55 of his ten.
In reply, India got off to the worst possible start, with batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar falling inside the fourth over for just 8.
However Gautum Gambhir’s aggressive stroke play put the pressure right back on the Pakistanis, with India on 81-1 after just 11 overs. The opener hit 57 of just 46 balls before being run out by Rahul Dravid.
India kept up with the required rate but the introduction of spin proved to be the undoing of the young Virat Kohli, who holed out to the juggling catch of Umar Gul in the deep.
All rounder Afridi then got the crucial wicket of captain MS Dhoni which left India reeling on 133-4. Some lusty blows by Suresh Raina, including successive boundaries in one over, gave India the impetus in the middle overs until he was adjudged lbw for 46.
Things got worse for India as Dravid was run out, wickets then fell at regular intervals as Pakistan ran out eventual winners much to the delight of the Pakistani supporters.
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