Yuvraj fires India to easy win in warm-up match

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COLOMBO, Aug 15 (AFP): Yuvraj Singh geared up for the one- day series against Sri Lanka with an explosive 172 to power India to a comfortable 92-run victory in a practice match here Friday.

The left-hander smashed 13 sixes and eight fours in his 121- ball knock as the tourists posted a challenging 342-5 before restricting a Sri Lankan XI to 250-6 in a 50-over clash.

The five-match one-day series starts in Dambulla Monday.

Yuvraj went on the rampage after completing his century, hitting four successive sixes off spinner Jehan Mubarak. He was caught at deep mid-wicket by Mahela Udawatte while attempting a big hit off seamer Chanaka Welegedara. "The knock gave me a lot of confidence. I had prepared well before coming here and hope to maintain my form. My intention was to spend time in the middle because I haven't played for a while. Then I played my strokes," said Yuvraj.

Brief scores:

India: 342-5 in 50 overs (Yuvraj 172, Raina 45, Gautam 31, Rohit 24, Virat 23, Dhoni 20 not out; Chanaka 2-64).

Sri Lankan XI: 250-6 in 50 overs (Mubarak 60, Upul 50, Kaushal 38 not out, Chamara 38, Mahela 20; Irfan Pathan 2-48).

Result: India win by 92 runs