Perth, Feb 28:
India today virtually assured themselves of a quarterfinal berth in the cricket World Cup after spanking minnows UAE by nine wickets, recording their third successive win with yet another flawless display, here today.
After the bowlers led by off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (4/25) bundled out UAE for a paltry 102 in only 31.3 overs, the batsmen made short work of the target knocking off the required runs in only 18.5 overs in a completely lop-sided Pool B contest.
India thus maintained their grip on the top spot in the league table with three wins from as many matches which took their points tally to six. With three matches against West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland left, Dhoni and his boys, are well on course of topping the group.
Shikhar Dhawan (14) started off well with three sweetly-timed boundaries before Rohan Mustafa at gully pulled off a one-handed stunner to send him back. The pacer was Mohammed Naveed.
Rohit Sharma hit a fluent unbeaten 57 off 55 deliveries with the help of 10 fours and a six to notch up a significant score before the West Indies game.
While runs against UAE may not be the best indicator of anyone’s current form, but some of Rohit’s silken strokes would certainly keep the Caribbean bowlers worried before the duel on March 6. (PTI)
SCOREBOARD
United Arab Emirates innings (50 overs maximum)
Amjad Ali c †Dhoni b Kumar 4
Andri Berenger c Dhoni b Yadav 4
Krishna Chandran c Raina b Ashwin 4
Khurram Khan c Raina b Ashwin 14
Swapnil Patil† c Dhawan b Ashwin 7
Shaiman Anwar b Yadav 35
Rohan Mustafa lbw b Mohit Sharma 2
Amjad Javed c Raina b Jadeja 2
Mohammad Naveed b Ashwin 6
Mohammad Tauqir* b Jadeja 1
Manjula Guruge 10 not out
Extras (lb 4, w 9) 13
Total (10 wickets; 31.3 overs) 102 (3.23 runs per over)
Bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5-0-19-1, Umesh Yadav 6.3-2-15-2, Ravichandran Ashwin 10-1-25-4, Mohit Sharma 5-1-16-1, Ravindra Jadeja 5-0-23-2
India innings:
Rohit Sharma not out 57
Shikhar Dhawan c Rohan Mustafa b Naveed 14
Virat Kohli not out 33
Extras: 0
Total: (for one wicket in 18.5 overs) 04
Fall of wickets: 1-29
Bowling: Naveed 5-0-35-1, Guruge 6-1-19-0, Javed 2-0-12-0, Chandran 3-0-17-0, Tauqir 2.5-0-21-0.
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