England could never really recover from a disastrous start as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals with only Pietersen standing bravely amidst the ruins with a belligerent 63 and Ravi Bopara (54 not out) hitting some lusty shots.

But with the asking rate climbing steeply, the game gradually slipped out of England's reach even before the halfway stage of the game.

The two teams will now travel to Indore for the second match to be played on Monday. Yuvraj, batting with a belt around his waist and with Gautam Gambhir as his runner for the major part of his dazzling knock, reached his hundred off just 64 balls with 11 fours and four sixes, narrowly missing out on overhauling Mohammed Azharuddin's 62-ball century record.

The 26-year-old batsman, struggling in Ranji Trophy after a poor run in the Challenger Series prior to this tie, got to his second fifty off only 22 balls with six fours and two sixes. His effort powered India to its best-ever score at this ground, overtaking New Zealand's 349 for nine made against hosts in November 1999.

But before his arrival to the crease the Indian innings was given a rapid-fire start by in-form openers Sehwag, who slammed 85 in 73 balls with 10 fours and three sixes, and Gautam Gambhir (51).

The power-hitting by Yuvraj, even when he was handicapped by his back problem, set the visitors a stiff asking rate of 7.7 to win the match.

Sehwag and Gambhir provided a flying start as they stitched together a partnership of 127 in less than 20 overs. After their departure, Suresh Raina (43) and Yuvraj added 89 runs in only 12.5 overs.

... contd.