Yuvraj takes India to 279/9

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DHAKA - Yuvraj Singh struck a flamboyant 74 as India made 279 for nine in 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the second One-day International of the tri-nation series at the Shere Bangla Stadium in Mirpur here Tuesday.

Virender Sehwag (47), Ravindra Jadeja (39), Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37) and Suresh Raina (35) came up with decent cameos after Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara opted to field. For Sri Lanka, left-arm seamer Chanaka Welegedara was the most successful bowler with five for 66 while Thilan Tushara and Thisara Pereira picked up two wickets each.

Sehwag was on a song right from the start, plundering runs off Welegedara and Suranga Lakmal.

Sehwag was especially severe on Lakmal, hitting the right-arm fast bowler for three fours in the sixth over as 50 runs came up in the next over.

Having accounted for Gautam Gambhir (8) and Virat Kohli (9), Welegedara struck in the ninth over to get rid off Sehwag, who gave an easy catch to Lahiru Thirimanne at mid-off.

With India tottering at 71/3, Yuvraj and Dhoni stabilised the innings with their 99-run stand. Dhoni played a cautious innings while Yuvraj went for the big hits. Dhoni hit just three fours in his 70-ball knock and was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara off Thisara Perera.

Yuvraj, who made his comeback after recovering from a finger fracture, smashed two sixes and six fours in his 84-ball stay as India got to a competitive total.