Indians top triseries averages

India lost four of their seven matches in the triangular one-day series involving Sri Lanka and New Zealand, including the final, but still managed to head both the batting and bowling averages.

Rahul Dravid, the most consistent Indian batsman in the series, scored 259 runs from seven innings at an average of 51.80. He remained unbeaten twice, which gave him a better average than Nathan Astle (48.33), who scored 290 runs with two centuries, and Sanath Jayasuriya (43.57), the tournament's highest scorer with 305 runs.

Zaheer Khan shared the honours for the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando. All three claimed 11 wickets each. However, it was Hemang Badani who topped the averages, his two wickets from seven overs came at 16 runs apiece.

Among the frontline bowlers, Harbhajan Singh produced the best performance among the Indians, claiming 10 wickets at an average of 19.20 while Ashish Nehra's nine wickets cost him 25.77 runs each.

Fernando and Vaas averaged 18.00 and 20.54 respectively while Craig McMillan, who took six wickets at 17.16 runs apiece, topped the table for New Zealand.

Mail Cricket Editor