DHAKA, Dec 27: Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag hammered explosive half-centuries as India whipped Bangladesh by 91 runs in the third and final one-day international to clinch the series 2-1 on Monday.

India, who suffered an upset defeat in the second game on Sunday, struck back with vengeance to crush Bangladesh with their batsmen leading the way after winning the toss on a good pitch. Runs came thick and fast as Sehwag (70), Yuvraj (69), Rahul Dravid (60) and skipper Sourav Ganguly (55) all cracked half-centuries to help their team post a massive 348-5.

Bangladesh, who were virtually batted out of day-night game, scored 257-9 despite a career-best 82 from opener Rajin Saleh, who hit one six and eight fours in his gutsy 114-ball knock.

Part-time bowler Sachin Tendulkar (4-54) and pace man Ajit Agarkar (2-32) helped India complete the job under lights. Wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni also had a good match, taking three catches and effecting two stumpings.

India went into the decider with a full-strength side as key batsmen Tendulkar and Dravid, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh returned. Bangladesh, who bowled and fielded superbly against an experimental Indian team on Sunday, could not repeat their performance as none of their bowlers could contain the flow of runs.

Openers Sehwag and Tendulkar set the pace with a blistering 106-run stand off 79 balls, while Yuvraj capped the impressive Indian batting display with a 93-run stand for the fifth wicket off just 47 balls with Mohammad Kaif.

Sehwag, hungry for runs after failing in both the Tests and his previous one-dayer, regained form in the last match of the tour to put India on course for a huge total.

Ganguly and Dravid then capitalised on the solid start, gathering runs with ease to put on 98 for the third wicket. Left-handed Yuvraj joined the party in the closing overs, reaching his 17th half-century off 22 balls. He eventually fell for 69, which came off 32 balls with three sixes and eight fours.

Sehwag and Tendulkar (47) treated the Bangladeshi pace attack with sheer disdain as they began with a flurry of big shots to put pressure on the fielders. A spectacular catch ended Sehwag's 52-ball blitz. The batsman swung Mahmud over mid-wicket where Ashraful timed his jump to perfection to hold the ball inches inside the boundary line.

SCOREBOARD