Robin Singh takes India to test lead

Robin Singh takes India to test lead

COLOMBO (AFP): Robin Singh smashed his first one-day century and Mohammad Azharuddin completed 7,000 limited overs runs as India flayed new-look Sri Lanka for 291 for nine in the third and final one day international here yesterday.

All-rounder Singh hit 100 off 102 balls, sharing a third- wicket stand of 162 with Rahul Dravid (78) and a quickfire 62 for the fourth with Azharuddin (34) after India were sent to bat.

But the Indians, 268 for three at one stage in the 45th over, lost six wickets in the space of 31 deliveries -- three to suicidal run outs -- to slide to 288 for nine.

The Sri Lankans, enjoying a decisive 2-0 lead in the three- match series, rested three frontline bowlers Chaminda Vaas, Sajeewa De Silva and Muttiah Muralitharan.

The second-string new ball attack of Ravindra Pushpakumara and Dulip Liyanage removed openers Saurav Ganguly (14) and Sachin Tendulkar (27) by the 10th over.

But Singh, coming in at number three in a pinch-hitter's role, and Dravid lifted India to 91 for two by the 15th over and took the tourists to 206 by the 34th.

Azharuddin, 34, became the world's third batsman to score 7,000 one-day runs when he reached two in his 252nd match.

West Indian opener Desmond Haynes leads the run-getters with 8,648 runs from 238 matches, while Pakistan's Javed Miandad has 7,381 from 233 games.

India looked set to cross the 300-mark when Nayan Mongia, Rajesh Chauhan and Abey Kuruvilla ran themselves out to aid Sri Lanka's late fightback.