ADELAIDE, Jan 24: Zimbabwe's Stuart Carlisle and Sean Ervine struck centuries and shared a record stand of 202 but India held on to win by three runs in their triangular series One-day International here on Saturday.

It was the Africans' fifth defeat in five games in the tournament that also features Australia.

Set 281 to win, Zimbabwe were in the doldrums at 46 for three in the 12th over. However, Carlisle, who made 109, and Ervine (100), almost produced an unlikely victory.

But after their departure the task proved too great and it was beyond Dion Ebrahim to hit the required six off the last ball as Zimbabwe finished on 277 for six.

"It's more of a disappointment to lose by that margin than by a big margin," Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak told a news conference. "We got so close and all it needed was one little boundary and we would have been there.

"All the guys are very disappointed."

Earlier, Vangipurappu Laxman hit his third century in a week to lift India to 280 for seven after the Indians had lost their first three wickets for four runs.

Laxman's career-best 131 from 138 balls at the Adelaide Oval followed his 103 not out against Australia last Sunday and an unbeaten 106 against the world champions on Thursday.

He also made 148 in the second Test against Australia on the same ground in December.

"The ball comes onto the bat (at Adelaide)," said Laxman. "There's an even bounce and you can play your strokes probably more than anywhere in the world."

Laxman hit 13 fours and a six in a stunning display of elegant off drives, pull shots and wristy flicks to leg, in putting on 133 for the fourth wicket with Rahul Dravid, who made 56, and 118 for the fifth wicket with Rohan Gavaskar (54).

India had slumped after Saurav Ganguly won the toss and chose to bat, when Streak, who led the bowling with three for 53, dismissed Sanjay Bangar and Parthiv Patel for ducks before Blignaut removed Ganguly for one.

Dravid eventually fell when Blignaut had three attempts to hold a juggling catch at mid-on off left-arm spinner Ray Price (1-43) at 137 for four.

Hemang Badani was Streak's third victim, bowled for five before Laxman was finally caught by Travis Friend off Hondo's bowling in the 49th over.

After Ajit Agarkar (3-39) grabbed two early wickets, Carlisle and Ervine dominated the India attack, establishing a record for any wicket for Zimbabwe in One-day Internationals.

Ervine's run out, which ended his 100-ball knock that included nine fours and a six, then brought new energy to India with Agarkar dismissing Carlisle for 109 in the 48th over.

Zimbabwe needed nine to win from the final over after Streak edged a boundary at the end of the 49th, but they could only manage five runs after they lost the hard-hitting Blignaut, caught by a diving Laxman, to Bangar for 12.

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