India prepared for Sunday’s Asia Cup final against Bangladesh with a crushing nine-wicket win over United Arab Emirates in Mirpur.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s side produced a brilliant bowling display to limit UAE to 81 for nine before romping to their victory target with 59 deliveries to spare, their biggest Twenty20 international triumph margin in terms of balls remaining.
UAE failed to justify their decision to make first use as only two batsmen reached double figures, Shaiman Anwar top-scoring with 43 from 48 deliveries.
Seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and spinner Harbhajan Singh both impressed following their recalls to the side, returning figures of 2-8 and 1-11 respectively from their four-over spells.
Rohit Sharma then smashed seven fours and a maximum to get India’s short chase off to a flying start until he holed out to third man off Qadeer Ahmed for 39.
But Shikhar Dhawan and Yuvraj Singh, playing his 50th T20I, completed the triumph in quick time with 16 and 25 respectively.
Source: ECB