Agencies
Perth, February 28
India cruised to an emphatic nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in Perth, chasing down their 103-run target inside 19 overs.
Ravichandran Ashwin took 4-25 as the UAE were dismissed in 31.3 overs in a batting display that disappointed following decent efforts against Zimbabwe and Ireland.Shikhar Dhawan (14) was the only wicket to fall as India knocked off the runs with ease – Rohit Sharma top-scoring with an unbeaten 57 – to secured their third straight World Cup win.
The UAE won the toss and chose to bat first but misjudged the WACA surface and lost a batch of early wickets.
Their opening three batsmen – Amjad Ali, AR Berenger and Krishna Chandran – were all dismissed for four.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav picked up Ali and Berenger caught by MS Dhoni behind the stumps, while Ashwin had Chandran caught at leg slip by Suresh Raina.
The off-spinner further bamboozled Swapnil Patel, who fell for seven, and Khuram Khan (14), who also offered up at catch to Raina at leg slip.
It left the UAE reeling at 44-5 in only the 17th over but their century-maker in their previous game against Ireland, Shaiman Anwar, again impressed, top-scoring with 35.
Wickets continued to fall around him though as no other batsman expect for their No 11, AM Guruge (10no), reached double figures.
He and Anwar put on 31 runs for the final wicket before Anwar perished two balls after bringing up the team’s hundred.
India were fairly reserved in their run-chase, managing to reach the total without taking too many risks.
Dhawan – who scored 137 in India’s win over South Africa in their last game – fell in the seventh over when picking out the man at point off Mohammad Naveed.
But that was the only breakthrough for the UAE, as Sharma and Virat Kohli (33no) put on a 75-run partnership to seal a comprehensive win.
The UAE face Pakistan next in Napier on Wednesday, while India stay in Perth to play the West Indies on Friday.
