The Jamaica Star :: Sport :: India humble England

AP - Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh raises his bat to acknowledge the applause after scoring a century against England during the first one-day international cricket match in Rajkot, India, yesterday. Yuvraj belted an unbeaten 138 from 78 deliveries.

RAJKOT, India (AP)

Yuvraj Singh's aggressive century spurred India to a 158-run victory yesterday in the series-opening limited-overs international against England.

Yuvraj belted an unbeaten 138 from 78 deliveries to guide India to 387 for 5 in 50 overs - a record on home soil. The Indian bowlers then dismissed England for 229 in 37.4 overs.

Chasing the imposing target, England were never in the contest once their top order crumbled against the accurate pace attack that reduced them to 38-4. Skipper Kevin Pietersen (63) and Ravi Bopara (54 not out) provided the only innings of substance for England.

Yuvraj's ninth ODI hundred enabled India to post their second-highest ODI total ever - well behind their 413-5 against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup but ahead of their previous home record of 376-2 against New Zealand in 1999.

conceded more runs

It was also India's highest total against England, beating the 329-7 at Bristol last year.

The English attack, meanwhile, conceded more runs than ever in an ODI, surpassing the 353-6 against Pakistan at Karachi in 2005.

Yuvraj smashed the England attack for six sixes and 14 boundaries to overcome his poor form of recent months, which led to his omission from the Indian squad for the home Test series win over Australia.

India came into this seven-match ODI series against England three days after clinching a 2-0 Test series win over top-ranked Australia. The English were humbled in a 124-run loss to a Mumbai XI after being bundled out for 98 in a warm-up match.

Yuvraj's assault came after Virender Sehwag (85) and Gautam Gambhir (51) gave India a flying start, putting on 127 runs for the opening partnership that dashed England's hopes of making early inroads into the home team's top order.

Pietersen's decision to field after winning the toss backfired as none of the seven bowlers he utilised consistently bothered the Indian batsmen.

Sehwag's innings contained three sixes and 10 boundaries from 73 deliveries. He struck sixes off the first two deliveries of Paul Collingwood's first over.