The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Rajkot

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

Yuvraj belted an unbeaten 138 from just 78 deliveries to guide India to 387 for 5 in 50 overs - a record score on home soil.

India's bowlers then dismissed England for 229 in 37.4 overs. The triumph is India's highest by runs against England, whose previous biggest loss to India batting second was by 86 runs at Sydney in 1985.

Chasing the imposing target, England was never in the contest once its top order crumbled against the accurate pace attack that reduced it 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 its second-highest ODI total ever - well behind its 413-5 against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup but ahead of its previous home record of 376-2 against New Zealand in 1999.

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

England's 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 India's squad for the home test series win over Australia.

"This is one of my best knocks in one-day internationals," Yuvraj said. "I didn't have to run, I just pressed the accelerator."

Skipper Mahendra Dhoni was delighted with the dominant start to the series.

"Yuvraj was simply fantastic. On a day like this, the opposition can't do much," said Dhoni.

"It was important to begin the series on a good note." Pietersen too applauded Yuvraj's knock, saying, "When you watch an innings like Yuvraj's, all you say is "well played guys"."

"It was an amazing batting pitch. A little touch and it goes for four, you touch harder and it goes for a six," he said.

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.

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

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

Sehwag then hoisted left-arm spinner Samit Patel for his third six, but the inexperienced Patel hit back claiming both their wickets.Yuvraj then shared partnerships with Suresh Raina (43) and skipper Dhoni (39) that further boosted India's run-rate.

The English bowling figures took a battering, with James Anderson the most economical at a mediocre 0-52 in eight overs. Andrew Flintoff returned 1-67, Steve Harmison snared 2-75 and Patel took 2-78.

India's bowlers were contrastingly effective from the start, with Zaheer Khan (3-26) ripping through the top order.

He removed Owais Shah (0), Ian Bell (25) and Flintoff (4) after fast bowler Munaf Patel (1-20) dismissed opener Matt Prior (4).

Pietersen hit two sixes and seven fours off 98 balls, adding 71 runs for the sixth-wicket with Patel (28) before he was run out.

Bopara's hit five sixes and two fours from 45 balls in a rearguard innings, but by then India already had control of the match.