Indians played inspired cricket and outplayed their opponents in all departments of the game, first piling up a huge 315 — their best against Australia — and then bowling out the Aussies to 255 in 43.3 overs.

Almost all the batsmen game good, with Rahul Dravid leading the pack with a handsome 80 after captain Saurav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat on a good batting track.

Virendra Sehwag, who made a fine contribution with the bat scoring 58, became the most successful bowler claiming three wickets for 58 runs.

The Australians made a strong reply to the big total and were very well in the race till Matthew Hayden was on the crease. The burly opener continued from where he left in the Test series and was hardly unnerved from the early losses of Mark Waugh (5) and Ricky Ponting (9) as he led the Aussie fightback in the company of Michael Bevan.

Hayden, who had a life at 55 when he was dropped by Harbhajan Singh off his own bowling, ran out of luck when he became the first victim of Sehwag. Looking all set for his first one-day century, he fell leg before wicket on 99. His 90-ball knock included seven fours and a six.

Bevan, who was flown in for the one-dayers had earlier missed his half-century by a run when he was caught by substitute Robin Singh off Ganguly after adding 109 runs for the third wicket with Hayden.

The rest of the batsmen could not put up a fight and were dismissed cheaply as Australia saw their 10-match winning streak come to a halt.

Captain Steve Waugh and his deputy Adam Gilchrist did offer some hope but once Waugh was out to a doubtful leg before decision to Sehwag for 18 — Australia losing their sixth wicket at 212 — India looked well on course of a victory.

Javagal Srinath who finished with figures of 3-49, became the second highest wicket-taker for India in the one-dayers after Anil Kumble when he bowled Shane Warne for 13.

The confidence of the historic win in the Test series was on full display as Indian batsmen made light of the formidable Australian attack to pile up a huge 315 with a ball to spare.

Almost all the batsmen made a healthy contribution with Rahul Dravid leading the pack with a handsome 80 after captain Saurav Ganguly won the toss and elected to bat on a perfect batting track.

For a change, the Indians were not pressurised by the regular fall of wickets and scored at over six runs an over despite the early fall of Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman.

Tendulkar, who made 35 off just 26 balls, started the fireworks taking 19 runs of Glenn McGrath’s fourth over, which included a six and three fours, and the rest of the batsmen, notably Virendra Sehwag, Dravid and Vijay Dahiya, continued the good work with some flamboyant knocks.

Tendulkar, who looked in full flow, was unlucky to be run out after a mix-up with Laxman but the Indian innings did not falter. Laxman displayed the same form that made him the highest scorer for India in the Test series and went on to play a gem of an innings before holing out a catch to Damien Martyn off Ian Harvey for 45.

Dravid, who came at the fall of Tendulkar, played his usual sheet anchor role to perfection and scored at around run a ball. He showed tremendous urgency while running between the wickets and scored mostly through ones and twos.

After Hemang Badani was out for 11, caught by Mark Waugh in the slips off Shane Warne, Dravid and Sehwag combined in a brilliant 100-run stand off just 96 balls for the fifth wicket with the Delhi batsman looking very aggressive and punishing anything loose.

Sehwag was not afraid of going over the top and played every bowler with ease. He struck Damien Martyn for two fours in the 34th over to bring up India’s 200 and in the next over reached his first one-day fifty with a four and a single off Harvey. He was bowled off a yorker by Damien Fleming for 58 which was studded with eight boundaries.

Wicket-keeper Vijay Dahiya joined Dravid and continued to plunder runs with some lusty hittings. Dahiya played lofted shots to remarkable effect chipping in between the fielders.

India reached 250 in the 41st over and were heading for a big score when Dravid was caught by Ian Harvey off Martyn for a well-made 80 off 84 balls that had just three fours and a six in it.

Dahiya meanwhile also completed his first 50 but was run out soon after for 51.

Sri Lanka’s success gave them a 2-0 winning lead in the three-match series after their five-wicket victory in the first game at Dambulla on Friday.

Jayawardene, batting with a runner towards the end of his brilliant century because of cramp, spurred Sri Lanka to 226 for seven in their 50 overs after a subdued start.

He reached 93 with four balls left in the final over, bowled by Craig White, and reached three figures off the last delivery, having faced 115 balls and hit seven fours.

Jayawardene found an effective ally in Kumar Dharmasena at the end of the innings as they shared an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 52, plundering 46 from the last five overs.

England, effectively contained by Sri Lanka’s four spinners, crumbled to 160 all out after 44.5 overs, with only Alec Stewart offering prolonged resistance by making 55.

Stewart’s 102-ball innings was ended by a superb catch by Jayawardene, diving to his right at mid-wicket. He also took a catch to remove the in-form Graham Thorpe for 12, and ran out Craig White in a triumphant individual performance.

Former West Indies captain Viv Richards and members of the 1948 Invincibles side, which Bradman captained against England, gathered in St Peter’s Cathedral to pay their final respects, with Britain’s Queen Elizabeth sending a personal tribute.

“He was a man who embodied the best of the Australian spirit, a love of life, a love of sport, an ability to bring out enthusiasm in all who knew him,’’ she said in a message read by Australia’s Governor-General William Deane.

“He was an outstanding Australian who will be sorely missed,’’ she said of Bradman, who died on February 25, aged 92.

Fierce winds and rain kept all but about 2,000 die-hard fans from watching the service on giant screens at the nearby Adelaide Oval, scene of some of Bradman’s triumphs.

They held candles, sheltered from the cold in the Members’ Stand, where many crowds had thrilled at Bradman’s unbeaten brilliance with the bat in the 1930s and 1940s.

But millions more were expected to watch the ceremony, with the two- hour service broadcast live across Australia and to India and Pakistan, where Bradman was revered.

Intensely private to the end of his life, Bradman turned down the offer of a state funeral and his body was cremated at a private service held in Adelaide four days after his death.

His son John led the eulogies at the memorial service, saying his family had been “absolutely astonished and very moved’’ at the response around the world to his father’s death.

Local media here reported that the two players ironed out their differences after a conciliatory meeting called at Willington by the senior players during a practice match yesterday.

The meeting, held in the dressing room, was called by skipper Moin Khan and attended by Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis and manager Faqir Aizazuddin among others.

At the meeting, Miandad and Ijaz were asked to speak openly and lay on the table their grievances against each other, The News reported from Wellington today. Ijaz had recently blamed Miandad for dropping him from the team to allow his nephew Faisal Iqbal to settle down in the Pakistan team. For his part, Miandad denied the allegation and clarified that he never prevented Ijaz from going over to New Zealand.

Resuming at their overnight score of 50 for 3, the visitors were skittled out for 162 runs with Patel notching up four wickets for 47, Bhoite three wickets for 35 and Buch three wickets for 38 runs.

Baroda will now take on the winners of the Orissa and Madhya Pradesh match in the semifinals.

After the departure of T Kumaran (50), who was brilliantly caught by Nayan Mongia off Patel, chances of Tamil Nadu coming back into the game were bleak.

The sixth wicket partnership between Hemant Kumar and Madan Gopal produced 72 runs which was the only highlight of the Tamil Nadu innings today, and with wickets falling at regular intervals Tamil Nadu lost hopes of making it to the semis after the debacle of their batsmen.

This was second victory for Baroda on the same ground. Earlier, they had beaten Bengal to enter the quarter-final.

Baroda (1st innings): 324

Tamil Nadu (1st innings): 186

Baroda (2nd innings):184

Tamil Nadu (2nd innings)

Badrinath lbw b Rakesh Patel 0; Sriram c R Patel b Ajit Bhoite 25; Hemant Kumar c Williams b V Buch 56; Sharath c Nayan Mongia b A Bhoite 1; Kumaran c Nayan Mongia b R Patel 3; Rubin Paul c and b Ajit Bhoite 4; J R Madangopal c A Bhoite b V Buch 45; S Mahesh not out 7; Ashish Kapoor c H Jadhav b Rakesh Patel 6; V Sivaramkrishnan c H Jadhav b V Buch 5; Srinivas c William b R Patel 3.

Extras (b-1, nb-6) 7.

Total (all out in 56.2 overs) 162.

Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/35, 3/43, 4/50, 5/59, 6/124, 7/144, 8/150, 9/159, 10/162.

Railways had made 451 runs in their first innings while Karnataka in reply had scored 237.

Resuming at their overnight score of 106 for no loss, Railways plundered Karnataka bowling adding 279 runs to their total losing six on the penultimate day of the 5-day Ranji Trophy quaterfinal.

A 136-run 6th-wicket partnership between Y. Goud (78 n.o) and S.N. Khanolkar (90)added to the woes of the visitors who had managed to reduce the hosts to 219 for 5 at one stage.

Karnataka bowlers tasted early success this morning when they picked up four wickets in the space of 86 runs.

Railways added 25 runs to their overnight score when Doda Ganesh had Pagnis leg before wicket. The opener, overnight 47, was back to the pavilion with his individual score of 68 (9x4).

Seven runs later Ganesh again gave his another breakthrough clean bowling other opener S. Bangar. He scored 59 (1x6,8x4).

Spinner Yalvigi trapped first innings hero Tejinder Pal Singh when he was on 17 (2x4).

Skipper Abhay Sharma 14(3x4)and S. Raza aAi 13 (2x4) were claimed by Vadeyaraj and Yalvigi, respectively and the hosts were 219 for 5 at this stage.

But after that it was sheer agony for the Karnataka bowlers who were sent on a leather hunt by Yere Goud and S.N. Khanolkar, who put up 136 runs in 32.4 overs to take the score to 355 before Khanolkar was caught by Rowland when the batsman was just short of 10 runs for his century.

Rowland hit one six and 13 fours in his knock which lasted 120 minutes. Karnataka bowlers failed to gain any new breakthrough in the remaining 9.5 overs in which Railways scored 30 runs.

Two great players, Anand and Valdimir Kramnik, are leading the event with 9.5 points after seventh round. They are closely followed by Veselin Topalov with 9 points.

In the rapid encounter, Anand faced queen’s Indian defence from white side against Zoltan Almasi of Hungary. He always prefered to play the same opening with black side. The Hungarian obtained a superior position in the early part of the middle game by deploying his forces in center. Almasi delayed castling and improved on queen side by sacrificing two minor pieces for rival’s rook and two pawns. Early exchange of queens put Anand on tight spot.

Almasi pulled the game into ending with deadly passed pawn on ‘b’ file which forced Anand to give up his knight for a mighty pawn, both the players reached to endgame.

Almasi could have won but the super defender Anand managed to hold his difficult position.

In the blindfold game Anand played safe and accepted the truce offer of Hungarian grand master’s after 16 moves with black pieces.

Brain games champion Kramnik of Russia, too, was lucky to draw his rapid game against Boris Gelfend of Israel. The Russian had to face serious trouble after loosing a pawn on 26th move in queen’s gambit.

A critical moment came at move number 20, when Kramnik decided to promote his king pawn which was lost six moves later. This mistake graciously admitted by Kramnik during the post-mortem. The Russian displayed a fine technique of endgame by cleverly switching over the game into rook pawn ending which was difficult for Gelfend to win. Peace treaty was signed after 62 moves.

In the blindfold game Kramnik played enterprisingly to score a overall victory over Gelfend with 1.5-0.5 margin to share the lead, that witnessed popular line of king Indian defence where the Russian had the advantage of white pieces. The opening followed the usual pattern till 10 move, when the Russian deviated for uncommon line.

The young Kaiserslautern striker, who came on in the second half to win his first cap, hit the winner yesterday with a diving header with two minutes remaining in a dull game with few highlights.

Midfielder Sebastian Deisler had put the home team in front with a thunderous drive from some 25 metres five minutes into the second half but the visitors levelled with a powerful effort from 20 metres by midfielder Bledar Kola 15 minutes later.

The only time Germany have failed to beat Albania was a 0-0 draw in 1967 in Tirana but they have often struggled against East European side and Saturday’s points were hard won.

The 22,500 crowd packing the Leverkusen stadium whistled and jeered until the 22-year-old Klose saved Germany from an embarrassing result.

ENGLAND TRIUMPH

LIVERPOOL: Sven Goran Eriksson’s competitive England era got off to a stuttering but ultimately successful start today as goals by Michael Owen and David Beckham gave his side a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory over Finland at Anfield.

England, playing their first competitive home game away from Wembley since 1962 and their first ever under a foreign coach, fell behind to an Aki Riihilahti header after 26 minutes as they failed to impose themselves in the first half.

Owen banged in the equaliser just before halftime and a screamer from Beckham four minutes after the restart had the home fans sitting back and waiting for the goals to come.

Owen hit the bar and Cole missed badly from close range but England were indebted to goalkeeper David Seaman who made a great double save in the last minute to deny the ever-dangerous Jari Litmanen.

FRANCE ROUT JAPAN

PARIS: Japan’s dreams of emulating France and winning the World Cup on home soil next year were shown to be little more than pipedreams as the world champions crushed the co-hosts of the 2002 finals 5-0 at the Stade de France.

Two goals from David Trezeguet (63 and 69), and one each from Zinedine Zidane (9th pen), Thierry Henry (14th) after goalkeeper Seigo Narazki let the ball squirm under his body — and a header from Sylvain Wiltord (56) exposed yesterday Japan’s limitations as France gave an all-conquering performance.

ITALY DOWN ROMANIA

BUCHAREST: Two opportunist first-half goals from Filippo Inzaghi helped Italy move a step closer to the 2002 World Cup finals with a 2-0 win over Romania that left the home side’s hopes of qualifying in tatters.

Inzaghi’s two strikes, the first a 28th minute deflection off Daniel Prodan and the second a short-range header four minutes later, yesterday lifted Italy five points clear at the top of qualifying group eight.

Romania started strongly, but poor passing and ball control on a sodden pitch let down many of their attempts to unlock a formidable Italian defence, which closed the home side down with a swarm of blue shirts.

NETHERLANDS WIN

BARCELONA: The Netherlands got their World Cup campaign back on track putting five goals past Andorra to earn three much-needed points in their European group two qualifying match against Andorra.

Second half substitute Pierre van Hooijdonk scored twice yesterday in his first game for the Dutch under coach Louis van Gaal, whose team still trail group leaders Portugal by three points after the 5-0 win. The Dutch have seven points from four games.

In the ninth minute, Patrick Kluivert headed home a Paul Bosvelt cross for the first Dutch goal of the match and the 30th of his international career.

The Dutch had to wait until the 36th minute for their next goal when a Mark Van Bommel shot ricocheted back to the feet of Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who easily converted to take them to half-time 2-0 in front.

Van Hooijdonk had an impressive outing, scoring on the hour, just two minutes after he had come on the pitch. The Benfica striker got his second 11 minutes later before PSV midfielder Van Bommel scored five minutes before the final whistle.

HUNGARY HELD

BUDAPEST: A rejuvenated Lithuania took a point off Hungary with a 1-1 draw in their group eight World Cup qualifier.

The first half produced few bright moments on a slippery pitch, the only real chance coming when Lithuanian keeper Gintaras Stauce saved from midfielder Vasile Miriuta’s 25-metre curled free-kick in the 44th minute.

Hungary took the lead yesterday from a penalty by defender Vilmos Sebok in the 70th minute after playmaker Bela Illes was brought down in the area.

Lithuania bounced back immediately and equalised when Tomas Razanauskas drove home a free kick in the 74th minute which took a cruel deflection.

IRELAND CRUSH CYPRUS

NICOSIA: Ireland moved into the second place in their World Cup European qualifying group two after a convincing 4-0 win over Cyprus.

Ireland and Manchester United captain Roy Keane sparked the rout after 33 minutes yesterday as he volleyed home a cross by Leeds United full back Gary Kelly.

The lead was doubled two minutes before half-time, when Ian Harte converted a penalty after Kevin Kilbane had been fouled by Georgios Theodotou.

Kelly made it 3-0 with a deflected shot from 20 metres after 80 minutes, then Robbie Keane saw his close range tap-in disallowed after 86 minutes for a foul on Cyprus goalkeeper Nicos Panayiotou by David Connelly.

Roy Keane rounded off a fine individual display on his 50th international appearance by claiming Ireland’s fourth goal one minute before time.

BOSNIA HOLD AUSTRIA

SARAJEVO: Bosnia and Austria drew 1-1 in a lively World Cup qualifier which left both far behind leaders Spain in European group seven.

Spain, who overwhelmed Liechtenstein 5-0 in Alicante yesterday have 10 points from four games to lead the group from Israel, who have six points from three games.

Austria have five points from three games, while Bosnia are effectively out of it with one point from three games.

FAROE ISLANDS WIN

LUXEMBOURG: The Faroe Islands scored two late goals to gain a deserved 2-0 victory over Luxembourg in a World Cup European group one qualifier.

The Faroes took the lead in the 75th minute yesterday after Luxembourg midfielder Patrick Posing lost the ball to the Ossur Hansen. Hansen passed to unmarked substitute Christian Jacobsen, who drove the ball home.

Luxembourg pushed forward in search of an equaliser but were caught on the counter-attack by Kurt Morkore, who scored the second in the 82nd minute.

BELGIUM SALVAGE DRAW

GLASGOW: Belgium coach Robert Waseige hailed his side for finding the mental toughness to come back and snatch a 2-2 World Cup draw against Scotland at Hampden Park yesterday.

Substitute Daniel van Buyten rescued Belgium — who played for more than an hour with 10 men after Eric Deflandre’s dismissal — with an equaliser two minutes into injury time of the European group six match.

The scots, who had been 2-0 up through a Billy Dodds double, seemed certain to assume leadership of the group until defender Van Buyten rose to head in Sven Vermant’s cross from 10 metres for his first international goal.

DENMARK BEAT MALTA

VALLETTA: Ebbe Sand scored a hat-trick as Denmark trounced Malta 5-0 in a World Cup European group three qualifier at Ta’Qali Stadium.

Sand, who plays for German first division club Schalke, opened the scoring in the eighth minute, profiting from confusion among four Maltese defenders yesterday.