India tears in Emirates line-up
India have completed their third straight comprehensive win as their World Cup defence gathers pace.
The defending champions eased to 1-104 to overwhelm United Arab Emirates by nine wickets at the WACA Ground.
UAE lasted just 31.3 overs in making 102 before India’s superstar batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma made the run chase appear easy in 18.5 overs of dominance.
Sharma, who has scored two ODI double centuries remained 57 not out while Kohli, who had an extraordinary Test series earlier in the summer, was 33 not out.
Spinner Ravi Ashwin was an easy choice as man of the match after claiming a career-best 4-25 as UAE foundered out of their depth on the bouncy surface.
Shikhar Dhawan was the only casualty of the run chase when he slashed opening bowler Mohammad Naveed to Rohan Mustafa behind point.
India disposed of arch rivals Pakistan in their opening fixture and then had too much firepower for one of the tournament favourites in South Africa in their second match.
UAE did little for the cause of the World Cup minnows after being dismissed so cheaply.
The UAE won the toss and elected to bat first in front of a noisy crowd that eventually peaked at 8718 but could not counter the substantial bounce gained by India’s bowlers.
Ashwin did most damage during the middle overs while the Indian quicks relished the pace and movement on offer.
The International Cricket Council has flagged a reduction to just 10 teams at the next World Cup in England in 2019 with it likely that no associates will be admitted to the tournament.
The UAE have won just one match in two World Cup campaigns and appear unlikely to improve on that record in their remaining three matches in New Zealand.
UAE just avoided becoming the third team to be dismissed for fewer than 100 at the WACA but produced their lowest ODI score.
It was also the lowest total made against India at a World Cup.
Opening bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav struck early with bouncers that drew poor shots and edges to the keeper from Andri Berenger and Amjad Ali respectively while Ashwin was a constant threat throughout his 10 overs.
He drew an edge to slip from Karate with his second delivery, while Khurrum Khan and Swapnil Patil were undone by the bounce and considerable turn.
When Ravi Jadeja struck with his first ball, giving Suresh Raina his third catch when Amjad Javed guided a chance to slip as though he was at catching practice, UAE had fallen to 7-61 and in danger of producing the lowest score at the WACA.
But Shaiwan Anwar provided some punch at the bottom of the order and his lively 35 helped UAE reach three figures.
UAE had played just 20 ODIs before this match, with just one game in the past 11 years against a competitive Test nation.
