Indian batsmen Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid ripped cricket's record books to shreds at Taunton yesterday as World Cup holders Sri Lanka, thrashed by 157 runs, prepared for an early plane home.

Ganguly, known as the Prince of Calcutta, and Dravid - until last year regarded as too slow a scorer for one-dayers - both made big centuries out of India's total of 373 for six. Sri Lanka were then bowled out for 216 as medium-pacer Robin Singh took five wickets for 31 runs.

Ganguly, who made 183, and Dravid, who ended on 145, put on an exhibition as extraordinary as it was historic in their record second-wicket stand of 318.

Coming together at six for one wicket after India had been put in, they kept the bat straight and the ball on the ground as they pierced the field at will. Then, after reaching 142 at the halfway stage, they accelerated sharply. The last 10 overs were pure mayhem, costing 129 runs.

The left-handed Ganguly had started more slowly than his partner but ended furiously. He was just one hit away from the highest individual score in World Cup history when he holed out to long off with one ball of the innings to go. His innings lasted 158 balls and included 17 fours and seven sixes.

Dravid's innings ended in a run-out in the 46th over and took 129 balls, with 17 fours and one six. It was a chanceless knock until he began hitting out.

Lance Klusener claimed the first five-wicket haul of the World Cup as favourites South Africa stormed into the second round with a seven-wicket romp over Kenya in Amsterdam.