Sehwag powers India to 414-7 against Sri Lanka
RAJKOT: Virender Sehwag smashed 146 off 102 balls as India piled up their highest one-day total of 414-7 against Sri Lanka here on Tuesday.
The swashbuckling opener hit 17 boundaries and six sixes after the tourists won the toss and elected to field in good batting conditions at the Madhavrao Scindia stadium here.
The run riot on a ground with shorter boundaries enabled India to just surpass their previous one-day record of 413-5 against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
It was also the fifth-highest score in one-day cricket overall, fuelled by a blazing start to the five-match series as Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hammered 153 for the first wicket by the 20th over.
Tendulkar, the world's leading Test and one-day batsman, made 69 off 63 balls with 10 fours and a six before he was bowled by Dilhara Fernando.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued the batting feast as he added 156 for the second wicket with Sehwag, before both batsmen fell in successive overs.
Dhoni hit seven boundaries and three sixes in his 72 off 53 balls.
Sehwag top-edged an intended flick off left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara to Tillakaratne Dilshan at point in the 36th over.
Five balls later, Dhoni holed out in the covers off Fernando as Sri Lanka slowed the scoring with a flurry of wickets towards the end of the innings.
India, who were sailing along at 309-1, lost five wickets in the space of 43 runs to slip to 352-6 by the 44th over.
Young all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja hit an unbeaten 30 off 17 balls to help India record their biggest total.
Welegedara, Nuwan Kulasekara and Fernando finished with two wickets each.
India had won the preceding Test series 2-0 and both teams won one Twenty20 international each.