RAJKOT, India (AP) — Virender Sehwag’s career-best 146 led India to a three-run victory yesterday as Sri Lanka fell just short of successfully recording the second-highest run chase in one-day international history.

Sehwag smashed six sixes and 17 fours in 102 balls at Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground to help India total 414-7 in 50 overs — their highest ever ODI total — in the first of five matches against Sri Lanka.

Tillakratne Dilshan hit a career-best 160, but three late run outs left Sri Lanka on 411-8 — the second-highest total for a team batting second by 61 runs and only behind South Africa’s 438 against Australia in 2006 at the relatively small Wanderers Stadium.

“It’s quite tough when you score 400 and almost lose it,” said captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 72. “We weren’t up to the mark during the first 35 overs of Sri Lanka’s innings, but the way we bowled and fielded after that was awesome.”

India’s previous best was 413-5 against Bermuda, during the 2007 World Cup at Port of Spain, Trinidad. Its previous highest score against Sri Lanka was 373-6, at the 1999 World Cup in England.

India’s total is the fifth highest, behind Sri Lanka’s leading 443 against the Netherlands in 2006, but the third best against a test-playing nation.

Sehwag featured in two big partnerships on way to a 12th ODI century, putting on an opening 153 with Sachin Tendulkar, who scored 69, and 156 for the second wicket with Dhoni.

“I kept telling myself that I’m in good form and I’ve got to make the most of it,” Sehwag said. “Tendulkar and I were initially aiming at a total of 350, but Dhoni played really well and raised the bar.”

Scoreboard

India Innings

V Sehwag c Dilshan b Welegedara 146

S Tendulkar b Fernando 69

M Singh Dhoni c Mathews b Fernando 72

S Raina c Jayasuriya b Kulasekara 16

G Gambhir c Sangakkara b Kulasekara 11

H Singh c Kulasekara b Mathews 11

V Kohli b Welegedara 27

R Jadeja not out 30

P Kumar not out 5

Extras: (5b, 4lb, 6nb, 12w) 27

TOTAL: (for 7 wickets) 414

Overs: 50.

Fall of wickets: 1-153, 2-309, 3-311, 4-325, 5-347, 6-352, 7-386.

Bowling: Kulasekara 10-0-65-2 (1w), Welegedara 10-0-63-2 (1nb), Fernando 9-0-66-2 (1nb, 1w), Mathews 7-0-60-1 (2w), Jayasuriya 7-0-76-0 (5w), Kandamby 5-0-49-0 (2w), Dilshan 2-0-26-0.

Sri Lanka Innings

U Tharanga st Dhoni b Raina 67

T Dilshan b Harbhajan Singh 160

K Sangakkara c Jadeja b Kumar 90

S Jayasuriya st Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh 5

M Jayawardene run out 3

T Kandamby run out 24

A Mathews c Tendulkar b Nehra 38

T Samaraweera run out 0

N Kulasekara not out 2

C Welegedara not out 1

Extras: (7lb, 1nb, 13w) 21

TOTAL: (for 8 wickets) 411.

Overs: 50.

Fall of wickets: 1-188, 2-316, 3-328, 4-339, 5-345, 6-401, 7-404, 8-409.

Bowling: Kumar 9-0-67-1 (1w), Nehra 10-0-81-1 (1nb, 3w), Khan 10-0-88-0 (2w), Jadeja 8-0-73-0 (6w), Harbhajan 10-0-58-2, Raina 3-0-37-1 (1w).

Result: India won by 3 runs.

Series: India lead 1-0 with four matches left.

Toss: India.