The UAE Under-19s could not have asked for a better start to their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign as they outclassed Kuwait by nine wickets on Monday.

The youngsters needed just nine overs to wrap up the comprehensive victory with Fahad Choudhary (18no) and Ali Mirza (18no) knocking off the winning runs to ease to their 49-run target at Kelub Aman in Malaysia.

Pace did the trick for the UAE thanks to Ethisham Saddique and captain Yodhin Punja, who each finished with identical records of 3-18, while all-rounder Aryan Lakra took two as Kuwait were all out for 48 in the 50-over match.

Only lower-order batsman Abdul Tufail (12) reached double figures but the UAE could have been chasing a lower target had it not been for their 19 extras.

The UAE will now face Hong Kong today and will fancy their chances of a second straight win having won the three-match series 2-1 last week.