Margao, April 3:

Yuvraj Singh’s smashing century led India to a 49-run victory on Monday in the third limited-overs international against England, providing India a 3-0 lead in the seven-match series.

Singh’s blazing 103, his seventh one-day century, helped India post 294 for six in 50 overs. In reply, England was bowled out for 245 in 48.5 overs despite a defiant 93 by Paul Collingwood.

Singh shared an inning-building partnership of 142 with Suresh Raina (61) that paved the way for the home side’s maiden victory in four one-dayers played here at Fatorda’s Nehru Stadium.

Electing to bat first after skipper Dravid won the toss, India was tottering at 131 for four after the fall of two middle-order wickets in five deliveries when Raina joined Singh at the crease.

England’s bowlers were threatening to seize control after removing Irfan Pathan (36) and Mohammad Kaif (0) in quick succession, but their hopes were dashed by the attacking knocks from Singh and Raina.

Playing in his 145th one-dayer, Singh struck three towering sixes and 10 fours off 76 deliveries, while Raina hit one six and five boundaries en route to securing his second successive half-century.

Opener Virender Sehwag (15) failed to click once again, but Dravid shared a brisk 78-run partnership from 99 deliveries with Pathan. Dravid struck six boundaries in his 59-ball 46.

England’s reply faltered from the moment left-arm pacer Pathan (4-51) had opener Andrew Strauss (7) caught behind by Mahendera Dhoni and then dislodged the off-stump of Blackwell (9).

Matthew Prior (37) was the only England top-order batsman to show some application, but Owais Shah (7), Flintoff (15) and Vikram Solanki (10) went cheaply as the tourists slumped to 100 for six.

Collingwood then featured in England’s late resistance through a 105-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Geraint Jones (32).

England’s defiance ended when Geraint Jones fell in trying to swing Pathan over the fence, to be snapped by Sehwag at deep-midwicket, and Collingwood fell seven runs short of his third one-day century. Collingwood struck one six and 10 boundaries from 84 balls before miscuing offspinner Harbhajan Singh to Raina at midwicket.

SCOREBOARD

INDIA

V Sehwag b Anderson 15

R Dravid b Collingwood 46

I Pathan c Collingwood b Flintoff 36

Y Singh c Collingwood b Flintoff 103

M Kaif c Jones b Plunkett 0

S Raina b Flintoff 61

M Dhoni not out 13

R Powar not out 1

Extras: 19 (3lb, 2nb, 14w)

Total: 294/6 (50 overs)

FoW: 1-27, 2-105, 3-130, 4-131, 5-273, 6-288

England bowling: Anderson 9-1-40-1, Mahmood 8-0-66-0, Flintoff 9-0-56-3, Plunkett 6-0-39-1, Blackwell 10-1-42-0, Collingwood 5-0-31-1, Solanki 3-0-17-0

ENGLAND

A Strauss c Dhoni b Pathan 7

M Prior run out 37

I Blackwell b Pathan 9

O Shah c Yuvraj b Pathan 7

A Flintoff c Sehwag b Powar 15

P Collingwood c Raina b Harbhajan 93

V Solanki c Yuvraj b Harbhajan 10

G Jones c Sehwag b Pathan 32

L Plunkett b Agarkar 18

S Mahmood b Agarkar 8

J Anderson not out 2

Extras: 7 (2lb, 2nb, 3w)

Total: 245 (48.5 overs)

FoW: 1-8, 2-27, 3-47, 4-78, 5-83, 6-100, 7-205, 8-223, 9-242

India bowling: Pathan 10-0-51-4, Patel 8-0-47-0, Agarkar 7.5-0-34-2, Harbhajan 10-0-47-2, Powar 10-0-45-1, Yuvraj 3-0-19-0