Sarwan drives Windies to second win, Sehwag's effort goes in vain

St Kitts, May 24 (UNI) Virender Sehwag's (96) return to form did not help India's cause as Ramnaresh Sarwan hit a masterly 115 to architect a second successive win for the West Indies who beat the visitors by four wickets in the third one-day international here.

Set a target of 246, the hosts romped home with four wickets and a ball to spare and now lead the five-match series 2-1 after winning the thrilling second game by one run in Jamaica.

Sarwan was once again the saviour for them as he teamed up with Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who scored 58, to put up a crucial 106-run fifth wicket partnership.

The hosts got off to a shaky start losing two wickets at the score of 31. First to go was Marlon Samuels (11), who was trapped plumb in front of the wicket by S Sreesanth. In the very next over, Runako Morton (0) joined Samuels in the pavilion also out leg before by Ajit Agarkar.

Their dismissal brought in Sarwan, who joined Chris Gayle, and immediately set the repair work rolling. The right-hander was in a punishing mood and hit two huge sixes off Ramesh Powar.

In great form after scoring a match winning 98 in the last match, Sarwan soon outscored Gayle and the duo took West Indies past the hundred mark in the 21st over. But the steady partnership was broken by Agarkar when he produced a fine edge off Gayle's bat to the safe gloves of wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Gayle made 40 in 65 balls.

Skipper Brian Lara, who came in next, could not stay for long as Harbhajan Singh got the better of him, dismissing him for five. The hosts looked deep in troubles but Sarwan had different plans and the vice-captain once again laboured to build an effective partnership along with old guard Chanderpaul.

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

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

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