PERTH, (Reuters) – Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed four wickets to lead a strong Indian bowling performance as the defending champions eased to a nine-wicket victory over the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup Pool B encounter in Perth Saturday.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and fast bowler Umesh Yadav chipped in with two wickets apiece as the Emiratis were bundled out for just 102 in 31.3 overs at the WACA to post the lowest score of this year’s tournament.
Opener Rohit Sharma had missed out in India’s wins against Pakistan and South Africa but used the opportunity to get some runs under his belt as his team chased down the target with 31.1 overs to spare for a third triumph in as many matches.
Rohit (57) and Virat Kohli (33) added 75 in an unbroken second wicket stand to carry India home after in-form opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan (14) fell to a sharp one-handed catch by Rohan Mustafa at point off Mohammad Naveed.
Rohit, the owner of the highest ODI score of 264, brought up his 24th fifty with a square-cut boundary off UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir. He hit 10 fours and a six during his 55-ball knock. Tauqir would never have envisioned such a shambolic batting display from his team mates when he won the toss and opted to bat first.
Scoreboard
United Arab Emirates Innings
- Ali c Dhoni b B. Kumar 4
- Berenger c Dhoni b U. Yadav 4
- Chandran c Raina b Ashwin 4
- Khan c Raina b Ashwin 14
- Patil c Dhawan b Ashwin 7
- Anwar b U. Yadav 35
- Mustafa lbw b M. Sharma 2
- Javed c Raina b Jadeja 2
- Naveed b Ashwin 6
- Tauqir b Jadeja 1
- Guruge not out 10
Extras: (lb-4 w-9) 13
Total: (all out, 31.3 overs) 102
Fall of wickets: 1-7 A. Berenger,2-13 A. Ali,3-28 K. Chandran,4-41 S. Patil,5-44 K. Khan,6-52 R. Mustafa,7-61 A. Javed,8-68 M. Naveed,9-71 M. Tauqir,10-102 S. Anwar
Bowling: B. Kumar 5 – 0 – 19 – 1(w-2) U. Yadav 6.3 – 2 – 15 – 2(w-3) R. Ashwin 10 – 1 – 25 – 4(w-1) M. Sharma 5 – 1 – 16 – 1(w-2) R. Jadeja 5 – 0 – 23 – 2
India Innings
Ro. Sharma not out 57
- Dhawan c Mustafa b Naveed 14
- Kohli not out 33
Extras: 0
Total: (for 1 wickets, 18.5 overs) 104
Fall of wickets: 1-29 S. Dhawan
Did not bat: A. Rahane, S. Raina, M. Dhoni, R. Jadeja, R. Ashwin, B. Kumar, U. Yadav, M. Sharma
Bowling: M. Naveed 5 – 0 – 35 – 1 M. Guruge 6 – 1 – 19 – 0 A. Javed 2 – 0 – 12 – 0 K. Chandran 3 – 0 – 17 – 0 M. Tauqir 2.5 – 0 – 21 – 0
Referees Umpire: Billy Bowden Umpire: Michael Gough
TV umpire: Nigel Llong
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle
Result: India won by 9 wickets