Mirpur (Bangladesh), March 3 (IANS) India put up a superb display with the ball to restrict the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to a paltry total of 81/9 in an Asia Cup Twenty20 International cricket encounter at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here on Thursday.
Shaiman Anwar top-scored with a 48-ball 43 for the UAE, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned figures of 2/8 for India.
The UAE kept struggling from the start as Indian pacers Bhuvneshwar and Jasprit Bumrah kept bowling on a tight channel.
After three overs, the UAE had only a run on the board and a little later they were reduced to 2/2.
Thereafter, a few top edges and knicks went past the Indian slip fielders as the UAE managed to gather 21 runs in the powerplay with Rohan Mustafa and Shaiman Anwar at the crease.
The Indian bowlers kept up the pressure and Mustafa (11) perished trying to smash Hardik Pandya. The left-hander only managed to find Virat Kohli at cover.
India tightened the leash further by chipping away two more wickets. Debutant left-arm spinner Pawan Negi picked up Muhammad Usman (9) while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh sent back rival captain Amjad Javed (0).
More wickets followed as the UAE failed to get a grip on the game. Anwar who had been silently watching his partners throw away their wickets had a go in the last few overs smashing a few to the ropes. These in turn helped his side get past 80 -- one better than Pakistan did against India.
