West Indies beat India by 19 runs, win series 5-1

Port of Spain, May 29 (UNI) Series already lost, Team India was hoping to salvage some of the lost pride but the West Indies inflicted a 19-run defeat on the visitors in the fifth and final one dayer to complete the humiliation at the Queen's Park Oval here.

Brian Lara's side had lost the first one dayer but soon bounced back and won four matches in a row to emphatically win the series 4-1.

Set a victory target of 256, India were all out for 236 with Virender Sehwag (95) being the lone crusader in the chase.

India began on a disastrous note chasing the highest total in the series as they lost the wickets of Robin Utthappa (0) and MS Dhoni(14) quite early.

Uthappa, playing his first match of the series, lasted just three balls falling to Wavell Hinds who was surprisingly asked by skipper Lara to open the West Indies attack. That proved to be a masterstroke as Uthappa was done in by an outswinger that carried a thin edge to the keeper.

And this wasn't to be Hinds' lone success of the day. Dhoni, sent in at number three, also fell prey to Hinds' subtle swing bowling.

The stumper-batsman hit two fours before misjudging Hinds' line and dragged the ball onto his stumps and India were reduced to 26 for two in the seventh over.

Rahul Dravid (18), though not opening, was forced to come in quite early in the innings and the Indian skipper immediately set into the task of repairing early damages.

Dravid and Sehwag maintained a run-rate of five plus and raised a 47-run partnership for the third wicket but a magnificent piece of fielding from bowler Dave Mohammad, who had a go at the stumps, left Dravid short of crease.

At 73 for three, India's chances looked waning but in-form Yuvraj Singh (26) played some breathtaking cover drives to keep the side in the hunt. Sehwag too, was playing a very responsible knock. He looked to grind the West Indies attack which, without the services of Fidel Edwards and Ian Bradshaw, lacked bite.

Whenever offered lose deliveries, Sehwag didn't hesitate to go full distance and with a big six off Dave Mohammad in the 17th over Sehwag's made his intentions clear.

Yuvraj looked in prime form and soon added fifty runs for fourth wicket with Sehwag but the hosts struck again.

Dave Mohammad, who wasn't getting much turn earlier, produced a beauty that sent Yuvraj back. Dave tossed up the ball on to the stumps and Yuvraj went for a big hit and was done in by the sharp turn that went through the gate and hit the stumps.

Kaif couldn't last long either and was out for 12 and India reached the second drinks break needing 83 runs to win from 18 overs and with five wickets remaining.

Sehwag was fast running out of partners. Next man in Suresh Raina perished in the same way as in the last match. Even before he had his eyes set in, Raina flashed outside the off stump and was caught behind for two off Jerome Taylor.

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