Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, in his first assignment after regaining captaincy, lifted the crown of first tri-nation Independence Cup Cricket beating Pakistan thrice in four engagements.

The Independence Cup Cricket was organised to mark the silver jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the day's tense final for sometime and later handed over the championship trophy to Indian captain Azharuddin alongwith a prize money of 12,000 US dollars.

Indian opener Sauray Ganguly, the team's lone cricketer from West Bengal, who hit his career best 124 runs off 139 balls with 11 fours and a mighty sixer to celebrate his second ODI century, was adjudged both Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series.

Bangladesh Sports Writers Association (BSWA) declared the more celebrated Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar as their man of the tournament. Indian top order batsman Navjot Singh Sidhu was awarded as the best fielder.

On way to winning the trophy, India beat Pakistan by 18 runs in the league match and by eight wickets in the first final. They lost to Pakistan by six wickets in the second final.

India, which won the Asian Cup Cricket in Dhaka in 1988, smartly won another prestigious trophy today making a world record of chasing and finally achieving a huge victory target of 315 runs set by Pakistan. The day's most entertaining third final which, in the late afternoon under floodlight, saw three excellent centuries made by Saeed Anwar and Ijaz Ahmed of Pakistan and Sauray Ganguly of India before a nearly 30,000 delighted cricket fans at the big bowl and also millions of TV viewers across the world.

Sri Lanka earlier made the chasing record in the world cup overcoming Zimbabwe's 312 runs, which India bettered today.

Sent in to bat first, Pakistan amassed a huge 314 runs for five wickets in reduced 48 overs posing a strong challenge to India. But the Indian batsmen were able to overcome the stiff hurdle by making a record 316 runs for seven wickets with one ball to spare.

The day's final, which was stopped twice for insufficient light, first for 35 minutes in the morning and second for about 10 minutes in the late afternoon, reached an exciting stage when India needed nine runs from last six balls.

Spinner Saqlain Mushtaq was sent to bowl the last over against Indian tailenders J. Srinath and H. Kanitkar who scored five runs each, enabling India to reach the huge target in 47.5 overs.

Kanitka scored the match-winning runs with a boundary over the mid-wicket off the fifth ball of the last over.

Earlier, opening their innings first, Pakistan made a flying start reaching 200 for 2 in 36.1 overs despite the dismissal of opener Shahid Afridi and one down Aamir Sohail.

Afridi scored 18 runs off 20 balls that included one four and a six while Aamir Sohail contributed 14 runs off 17 balls with a huge six.

World record holder Pakistani opener Saeed Anwar pairing with two down Ijaz Ahmed contributed an eye-catching 230 runs off 203 balls in the third wicket stand. The pair hit 18 fours and three sixes in a record third wicket partnership at the Dhaka Stadium.

Saeed Anwar made a quickfire 140 runs off 133 balls with 15 hits across the rope and two over the rope before he was caught by Indian skipper Azharuddin at mid-wicket off a Harvinder delivery.

Anwar scored his 15th century after facing 110 balls off a Robin Singh delivery.

Seasoned batsman Ijaz Ahmed hammered a polished 117 runs off 111 balls hitting seven fours and one six. He completed his 7th century off only 99 balls, also off Harvinder.

Harvinder Singh was the most successful Indian bowler in the match, claiming three wickets for 74 runs in 10 overs while Sachin Tendulkar and Javagal Srinath took one wicket each.

Replying to the massive total, Indian batsmen started in style to reach 100 runs in only 11.1 overs losing the most valuable wicket of Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin played a hurricane innings of 41 runs off 26 balls hitting seven fours and a six before he was caught by Azhar Mahmood at extra cover off an Afridi delivery.

In the second wicket stand, Saurav Ganguly partnering with Robin Singh hammered 179 runs off 29.5 overs to carry the Indian total to 250 runs from 71/1.

Ganguly made his career best 124 runs off 139 balls with 11 fours and a sixer before he was clean bowled by pacer Aaqib Javed. Robin Singh scored an well-merited run-a-ball 82 hitting four fours and two sixes.

Saqlain Mushtaq captured three wickets for 66 runs in 9.5 overs while Muhammad Hussain, Shahid Afridi and Aaqib Javed took one wicket apiece.