India thrash UAE by nine wickets in Asia Cup

India warmed up for the Asia Cup final against Bangladesh in fine fashion on Thursday, hammering United Arab Emirates by nine wickets in Mirpur as their impressive form continued.

With their place in Sunday's showdown against the hosts already assured, the pressure was well and truly off MS Dhoni's men, who cruised to victory to complete a 100 per cent record in the group stage with four wins from four.

The success was largely due to India's bowling attack, who restricted UAE to 81-9 from their 20 overs - the second lowest total a team has registered in Twenty20 internationals without being bowled out.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 2-8 from four overs including two maidens, while all six bowlers took a wicket, including debutant slow left-armer Pawan Negi (1-16 from three).

Shaiman Anwar's 43 was the top score for UAE, who only had one other player reach double figures, before India made short work of the chase, sealing victory in 10.1 overs as their preparations for the World Twenty20, starting on home soil later this month, gathered pace.

Kumar's excellent opening spell reduced UAE to 1-1 after three overs, and when Rohan Mustafa (11) fell to Hardik Pandya (1-11 from three), the minnows had stumbled to 25-3 in the ninth.

Anwar's partnership of 26 for the fourth wicket with Muhammad Usman (9) was the highest of the innings, but his knock from 48 balls, including three fours and a six, was never likely to be enough as UAE lost six wickets for 30.

In reply, Rohit Sharma showed the UAE batsmen the way by striking 39 from 28 balls, his knock containing seven boundaries and a maximum, before falling to Qadeer Ahmed (1-23).

That proved a minor blip in the chase, however, Yuvraj Singh (25 not out) and Shikhar Dhawan (16no) knocking off the runs as UAE finished bottom of the table without a point to their name.