DAMBULLA: Tim Southee and Nathan McCullum shared seven wickets as New Zealand bowled India out for 223 despite a superb century by Virender Sehwag in the tri-series match on Wednesday.

Paceman Southee finished with 4-49 and off-spinner McCullum with 3-35 as India failed to capitalise on the advantage given by opener Sehwag, who cracked one six and 16 fours in a 93-ball 110 for his 13th one-day hundred.

Sehwag was the fifth man out at 173, but India lost their remaining five wickets for just 50 runs.

India were earlier tottering at 66-4 in 13 overs after electing to bat when Sehwag propped up the innings with a 107-run stand for the fifth wicket with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (38).

Fast bowlers Southee, Kyle Mills (2-42) and Andy McKay (1-31) tested the Indian batsmen with pace and bounce in their lively opening spells to help New Zealand seize the early initiative.

Dinesh Karthik, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina all failed to reach double-figures.

Southee took two wickets while Mills and McKay grabbed one apiece before Sehwag and Dhoni steadied the innings with their sensible knocks.

Although wickets fell at regular intervals from one end, Sehwag kept playing attacking shots from the other and raced to his half-century off 41 balls when he hit seamer Scott Styris through the covers for his ninth four.

Sehwag then hit McCullum for a straight six and a four through the covers off successive deliveries. He took 46 more balls to complete his century, with a single off spinner Kane Williamson.

The Indian opener fell playing shots, caught at deep mid-wicket by Bradley-John Watling off McCullum in the 33rd over.

McCullum struck again when he had Dhoni caught by wicket-keeper Gareth Hopkins, who took four catches.

The winner of this match will meet Sri Lanka in the final on Saturday.

BDST: 1912 HRS, AUGUST 25, 2010