Reigning world champions India thrash UAE

Ashwin takes career-best four wickets as Dhoni’s men seal a nine-wicket win with 31.1 overs to spare.

India v United Arab Emirates - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup
India have now won all three of their group matches so far [Getty Images]

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned a career-best 4-25 to set up defending champion India’s nine-wicket win over the UAE in a World Cup Pool B match.

After dismissing UAE for a paltry 102, India raced to 104 for one in 18.5 overs. Opener Rohit Sharma top scored with an unbeaten 57 and shared a match-winning 75-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who finished 33 not out.

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Visit Al Jazeera’s 2015 Cricket World Cup page for news, updates, features and comment pieces

It was India’s third consecutive win after victories over Pakistan and South Africa.

It is the first time Ashwin, 28, has taken four wickets in an innings in 91 ODIs.

He bowled unchanged and used the bounce and turn on the WACA surface to unsettle the UAE batting lineup.

Scorecard:

UAE: 102 all out in 31.3 overs (Anwar 35, Ashwin 4-25)

India: 104-1 in 18.5 overs (Sharma 57*, Naveed 1-35)

Source: AP