India were on course for a third win in three World Cup matches when they bowled out the amateurs of the UAE for just 102 in their Pool B match at the WACA on Saturday.
The UAE lasted just 31.3 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat, and recorded the lowest World Cup score against India.
The Indians were at long odds to defend the title they won in 2011 after failing to reach the final of the triangular one-day series against Australia and England just prior to the World Cup.
However, their title defence is gathering momentum after emphatic wins over Pakistan and South Africa to start the tournament.
UAE skipper Mohammad Tauqir hoped his batsmen could set India a competitive target but that rarely looked likely from the time they lost opener Andri Berenger in just the second over.
Berenger failed to cope with the typical WACA bounce and top edged a short ball from Umesh Yadav through to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for just four.
It was a score matched by the other two batsmen in the UAE's top three, with Amjad Ali and Krishna Chandran both falling for the same score as they slumped to 28 for three in the 11th over.
Ali, like Berenger, fell victim to a short ball, caught behind by Dhoni from the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who replaced the injured Mohammed Shami in the Indian side.
Just when it seemed pace would be the undoing of the UAE, off-spinner Ravi Ashwin tore the heart out of their batting order.
Spin rarely plays a significant role at the WACA, but Ashwin claimed the wickets of Chandran, Khurram Khan (14) and Swapnil Patil (7) in quick succession as the UAE collapsed to 44 for five.
Ashwin finished with career-best figures of 4-25 from his 10 overs as the UAE added at least a hint of respectability to their innings with a last wicket stand of 31.– AFP