Sarwan drives W Indies to win over India

St Kitts, May 24 (UNI) Ramnaresh Sarwan put up another brilliant display as the West Indies put across the much vaunted Indian line-up to win the third one-dayer at St Kitts and take a 2-1 series lead.

Set a target of 246 in fifty overs, the Windies romped home with four wickets to spare. Sarwan with a masterly 115 not out was once again architect of West Indies victory. Sarwan was ably supported by Shivnarine Chanderpaul who scored 58 to put up crucial 106-run fifth wicket partnership that laid foundation for their win.

Chasing 246, West Indies began shakily losing two wickets by the score of 31. First to go was Samuels who was trapped plumb in front of the wicket by Sreesanth.

Next over Morton joined Samuels back in the pavilion, done in by Ajit Agarkar. Sarwan joined Gayle at the crease and immediately set the repair work rolling. Sarwan was in a punishing mood and hit two huge sixes off Romesh Powar.

Sarwan soon outscored Gayle and the duo took West Indies past the hundred mark by the 21st over. The partnership was broken by Ajit Agarkar when he produced a fine edge off Gayle's bat to the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Dhoni. Gayle made 40 in 65 balls.

Harbhajan Singh got the better of skipper Lara for 5 and the West Indies looked deep in troubles. But Sarwan had different plans.

Once again he laboured to build an effective partnership along with old guard Chanderpaul.

Chanderpaul also spared no effort in putting mediocre Indian bowling to task. Rahul Dravid tried everything in his book, brought Agarkar back in attack only to see the southpaw hitting a sensational six enroute to quick-fire 58 off 68 balls with 4 fours and a six.

Chanderpaul departed second last over of the innings falling to Pathan but Sarwan was still there and held on to his nerves to seal the West Indies victory in the penultimate ball of the innings.

Sarwan was adjudged Man of the Match second consecutive match for his first ODI century against India and third overall.

If Indian bowling was short of ideas defending a par-target, the middle and late order batting put up an appalling show.

Skipper Rahul Dravid chose to bat after winning the toss.

Virender Sehwag brushed aside his run of low scores in his inimitable style. Sehwag was unmoved by the fall of skipper Dravid last ball of the very first over, Sehwag launched into an attack that dispatched the bowlers to all the corners of the park.

He raced to his fifty in just 43 balls with 7 fours and 1 six.

Raina playing one down kept up the pace and took India past fifty.

But Raina was cleaned bowled on 26 trying to play on the leg-side.

Mohd Kaif raised the most productive partnership of the Indian innings with Sehwag as the two added 112 runs for third wicket.

Kaif, himself under immense pressure to perform played well in the gaps as the rampaging Sehwag continued to entertain the packed stadium.

However, tantalisingly close to yet another one day hundred, Sehwag played one shot too many, completely missing the line of an in-winging Yorker bowled by Bravo. Sehwag had raced to 97 off just 81 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes.

India were 174 for three at that time with 21 overs to spare.

Score in the region of 300 looked more probable but Indian batting showed little spine thereafter losing the plot and the match eventually.

Kaif ran himself out on 61 and thereafter no batsman could trouble West Indies attack. Dhoni (15), Rao (11) and Pathan (1) looked completely out of sorts. Three Indians were run out including Kaif. India managed just 245 in 50 overs losing 9 wickets.

Earlier, India made two changes in the team, bringing in Venugopal Rao for Yuvraj Singh who couldn't play due to back spasm and Sreesanth for Munaf Patel from the team that played in the second ODI.

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