India ease past Pakistan

India A 269 for 6 (Rohit Sharma 62, Uthappa 52, Dhawan 52) beat Pakistan A 235 (Bazid Khan 87, Umar 51) by 34 runs
Scorecard

Robin Uthappa prepares to drive on his way to 52 © AFP

India A outplayed Pakistan A in all departments of the game to secure a convincing 34-run win in the EurAsia Series in Abu Dhabi.

After producing a powerful batting performance to post a challenging 269 for 6, the Indians dismissed Pakistan for 235 in the day-night encounter at the Sheikh Zayed stadium. The win meant India topped Group A after the first phase of the league stage with two wins from as many matches. They will now play the second and third placed teams of Group B - hosts UAE and Ireland - in the second phase.

Bazid Khan stood tall among the ruins with 87 for Pakistan, who had the consolation of gaining a bonus point from the match.

Earlier, India A's top order batsmen fired in unison to to prop up the Indian total. After Robin Uthappa and Shikhar Dhawan put up a century opening stand, captain Venugopala Rao (45) and Rohit Sharma (62) consolidated with another strong partnership. Uthappa and Dhawan each made 52, but the latter at a quicker rate.

Their left-right combination kept the Pakistani attack at bay while stitching 100 runs for the first wicket from inside 17 overs. The stand was broken when Dhawan tried to step out to offspinner Mohammad Hafeez (2 for 46) and was beaten by a wide delivery to be stumped in the 17th over.

Uthappa went back five overs later, the umpire belatedly upholding a leg before appeal by leg spinner Mansoor Amjad (2 for 49).

Rao and Sharma added 86 runs for the third wicket with the captain making a composed 45 off 74 balls.