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 on 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 on 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 trying a big shot off seamer Chanaka Welegedara. He was involved in three valuable stands, adding 77 for the third wicket with Suresh Raina (45), 85 for the next with Rohit Sharma (24) and 99 for the sixth wicket with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (20 not out). The hosts never looked like reaching the stiff target despite impressive half-centuries from middle-order batsman Mubarak (60) and left-handed opener Upul Tharanga (50). Scores: India 342-5 in 50 overs (Yuvraj Singh 172, Suresh Raina 45, Gautam Gambhir 31, Rohit Sharma 24, Virat Kohli 23, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 20 not out; Chanaka Welegedara 2-64). Sri Lankan XI 250-6 in 50 overs (Jehan Mubarak 60, Upul Tharanga 50, Kaushal Silva 38 not out, Chamara Silva 38, Mahela Udawatte 20; Irfan Pathan 2-48). Four new faces Four players with no international experience were named to the Stanford Superstars squad for the $20 million winner-takes-all Twenty20 cricket series against England. The Nov. 1 match, the first of five, will be played in Antigua and was created and sponsored by Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire who lives in Antigua. He staged the successful Twenty20 regional tournament in 2006 and 2008 on his property adjoining the island's international airport. Fast bowlers Lionel Baker of Montserrat and Chad Hampson of Antigua, wicketkeeper Lyndon James of St. Vincent, and all-rounder Lennox Cush of Guyana were named alongside more established stars on Thursday by chief selector Viv Richards, the former West Indies captain and batting star. Stanford Superstars: Lionel Baker, Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Lennox Cush, Rayad Emrit, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Chad Hampson, Lindon James, Sylvester Joseph, Xavier Marshall, Dave Mohammed, Kieron Pollard, Daren Powell, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.
