Kaif, Yuvraj guide India to stunning victory

London, July 13: Yuvraj Singh and Mohammed Kaif hit brilliant half centuries to fire India to a thrilling two-wicket win over England in the tri-series final at Lord's on Saturday.

After England rallied around centuries by Marcus Trescothick (109) and Nasser Hussain (115) to hit up 325 for five, India recovered from 146 for five to score 326 for eight and win with three balls to spare.

Yuvraj, with 69 runs off 63 balls and Kaif, with 87 not out, shared an exhilarating 121-run partnership for the sixth wicket off 106 balls to set up the victory.

It was the second highest successful run chase ever following Australia's 330 for seven chasing South Africa's 326 for three at Port Elizabeth earlier this year.

Openers Virender Sehwag (45 off 49) and Sourav Ganguly (60 off 43) gave India's run-chase a kick-start with a 106-run stand off 88 balls.

But England fought back by taking five wickets for 40 runs before Yuvraj and Kaif joined forces to resurrect the innings. With the pair in full flow, medium paceman Paul Collingwood struck when Yuvraj top edged a sweep.

Kaif then joined by Harbhajan Singh (15 shared 47 off 35 balls) before India lost two wickets in three balls.

But Kaif, who hit his runs off 75 balls with two sixes and six fours kept his nerve and, with No. 10 Zaheer Khan (four not out) won the game in front of a capacity 32,000 crowd.

The win gave India its first tournament victory since beating Sri Lanka to win the three-nation tournament in Colombo in July 1998. It was India's first win in 10 consecutive finals. Hussain's long wait for his one-day 100 ended Saturday in his 72nd match and overshadowed a powerful knock by opener Marcus Trescothick, who hit 109 off 100 balls.

Hussain, who had faced criticism for his lack of aggression, gestured angrily toward the press box on reaching the milestone. The pair put to the sword a wayward Indian attack during a 185-run second wicket stand that helped England post its fourth highest one-day total.

Trescothick chancing his arm — dropped on 32, 52 and 60 — reached his 100 off 89 balls. His impressive batting form in the series fetched him 362 runs at an average of 51.71.

After losing fellow opener Nick Knight, 14, in the eighth over of the day, Trescothick — joined by Hussain — made a mockery of the seven-man India attack during the 177-ball alliance. Hussain refused to be overshadowed by his deputy and matched Trescothick during the relentless attack on India. Trescothick's third one-day 100 in his 44th one-day included two sixes and seven boundaries.

Hussain, whose highest score was 95 against Kenya in Nairobi in his previous 72 matches, finally posted his first 100 a day after he was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) at Buckingham Palace.

Hussain found a willing partner in big-hitting Andrew Flintoff, 40 off 32 balls, and shared a rollicking 80 runs off 60 balls for the third wicket.

The captain was finally bowled behind his leg and left to a standing ovation after hitting 10 boundaries.

India's fielding fell apart during the unexpected onslaught and dropped four catches. Indian fielding had been outstanding as it qualified for the final.