Sarwan celebrates birthday with ton, four-hitting record

Basseterre, St Kitts, Jun 24 (UNI) Ramnaresh Sarwan could not have asked for a better way to celebrate his 26th birthday as he hit a marvellous hundred to put West Indies in a commanding position and got his name etched on the record books by hitting six fours in one over of Munaf Patel.

The West Indies vice-captain said he was not even aware of the record until strike partner Daren Ganga told him about it and insisted that the shots were instinctive and not pre-meditated.

''It wasn't planned or anything but it was just instinct. I wasn't conscious of the record at all but after five fours Darren told me about it. He was also telling me to keep concentrating. In fact Patel seems to be such a bowler who once settles down then can get the better of you, so I generally wanted to attack and it happened,'' said Sarwan about the feat.

Sarwan was the most successful batsman for the West Indies in the one-day series, but in the following two Tests, he was far from impressive. He said it was a change in approach that fetched him his ninth Test hundred yesterday.

''I tried to change my approach from the first Test in Antigua where I was a little tentative when I started. That's because I was always thinking of batting long and it was in my head. Then we got four days off and I went to Miami and I realised that I have to be just more positive,'' he said.

Sarwan also revealed that the West Indies batsmen had chalked out a plan to tackle the Indian spinners especially Anil Kumble.

''We were wary of Anil because he was bowling for leg befores and getting those decisions. We thought that we should just open our stance a bit and get out of the line of his bowling. It worked for us and hopefully we would continue to do so,'' said Sarwan.

West Indies opener Daren Ganga also scored a ton and it was a crucial knock for the Trinidad batsman as the runs came after a string of failures.

''I know a lot of people were getting impatient with me opening the batting. But these sorts of things motivate me,'' said Ganga.

Ganga also said skipper Brian Lara had talked to him before the match which eased the pressure on him .

''Brian must take kudos for seeking me out and talking to me when I was under pressure. He has been through a situation like this when he was under pressure and he bounced back. He motivated me for the same,'' he said.

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