Sachin Tendulkar overcame severe cramps and crushed the spirits of Pakistan to hit a majestic 98 as India defeated their arch-rivals by six wickets in an enthralling World Cup clash at Centurion on Saturday.

The 29-year-old maestro, who suffered leg cramps midway through his innings, also passed 12,000 career one-day runs as he helped India surpass Pakistan's imposing 273-7 with 26 balls to spare.

India finished their Group A campaign with five wins out of six and, with 20 points, became the second team from the pool behind reigning champions Australia to qualify for the Super Sixes.

Pakistan are in danger of being eliminated as they lag behind on eight points with a game in hand against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Tuesday.

While India were winning at Centurion, little Kenya took another step forward in their battle to win Test match status by beating Bangladesh by 32 runs in Group B at the Wanderers to also move into the Super Sixes.

Veteran allrounder Maurice Odumbe hit 52 runs and took 4-38 as Kenya bowled out Bangladesh for 185 in reply to 217-7 to leave Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand battling for the other two spots.

Tendulkar narrowly missed out on a 35th career one-day century when he was removed fending a snorter from Shoaib Akhtar, who extracted revenge after Tendulkar and opening partner Virender Sehwag smashed him out of the attack with 18 runs in his opening over.

Tendulkar and Sehwag scored 53 off the first 34 deliveries and by the time he was dismissed in the 28th over, he had taken 12 boundaries and a six off the Pakistani attack.

Waqar Younis sent a scare through the Indian camp by removing Sehwag (21) and Sourav Ganguly off successive deliveries in the sixth over.

Mohammad Kaif denied Waqar a hat-trick and then settled down to make 35 in a third-wicket stand of 102 with Tendulkar.

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