ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: India vs United Arab Emirates, Pool B match in Perth in caricatures

After two big wins, India faced minnow United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The Pool B fixture took place in WACA, Perth on Saturday. India looked to maintain the top position in their group and extend their lead further.

UAE won the toss and elected to bat first. Their batting unit never clicked as they kept on losing wickets. UAE were 71 for nine in the 24th over. But a 31-run partnership between Shaiman Anwar (35) and Manjula Guruge (10) got them to 102 in 31.3 overs before they were bundled out for that score. For India, Ravivhandran Ashwin (four for 25) registered his career-best One-Day International figures. Umesh Yadav (two for 15) and Ravindra Jadeja (two for 23) played the support roles.

An easy target of 103, India took their time at the start before accelerating to finish off with a win. They lost Shikhar Dhawan (14) in the chase but Rohit Sharma (57*) and Virat Kohli (33*) ensured a nine wicket win. Their unbeaten 75-run partnership and a fine half-century from Sharma was enough for the Indians to thrash UAE. The UAE bowlers couldn’t put any pressure on the Indian batsmen as Mohammad Naved (one for 35) was the lone wicket taker in the end.

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Ashwin was adjudged the Man of the Match for his four for 25 runs. With the win, India remains at the top of the table with six points, close to making it to the quarter-final. UAE are down at sixth having played three, without any win under their belt. UAE next plays Pakistan on March while India faces West Indies on March 6.

Brief scores:

UAE 102 all out in 31.3 overs (Shaiman Anwar 35, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-25, Umesh Yadav 2-15, Ravindra Jadeja 2-23) lost to India 104 for one in 18.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 57*, Virat Kohli 33*; Mohammad Naved -35) — by nine wickets.