India clinch series, wins fourth test against WI by 49 runs

Kingston, Jamaica, July 3: India won the fourth test against West Indies test by 49 runs on the third day to win a series here in Carribbean after 35 years.

Chasing 269 for victory, West Indies were all out for 219 in 69.4 overs on the third day.

With this victory Rahul Dravid's team also clinched the series 1-0, becoming the first Indian team in 35 years too clinch series victory in the Caribbean. Last time India won a series here was in 1971 when led by Ajit Wadekar Indian team won 1-0.

India was led well from the front by skipper Dravid who played two crucial knocks of 81 and 68 on a track that offered most assistance to bowlers in this series so far. Harbhajan Singh's 5-13 in first innings and Kumble's 6- 78 in the second innings helped the Indians in raising this victory.

Dravid was declared man of the match and man of the series.

as well for the 496 runs he accumulated in the series. Kumbl took 23 wickets in the series, the most by any bowler on either sides.

West Indies top order also took the blame for absolute spineless batting in the first innings getting all out for 103 in mere 33.4 overs. In the second innings too wicketkeeper batsman Ramdin showed with his unbeaten 62 that scoring runs was possible here if the batsmen applied themselves.

Post tea session on the third day was crucial as West Indies needed 184 runs to win with six wickets remaining. The match could have gone either way from there with Sarwan and Bravo raising hopes of West Indies fight back.

The two were aggressive after tea, Bravo being more belligerent as he played Kumble and Sreesanth with ample ease Kumble changed ends, deciding to bowl from the far end. But he was hit for three fours in this over by Bravo that charged the atmosphere at Sabina Park.

Sarwan took the cue from Bravo and hit Sreesanth for a rasping cover drive to raise his fifty. This was a fighting knock from the West Indies vice captain who battled searing pain in his left knee to come out to bat.

But the sudden spurt of runs made the Wes Indies batsmen complacent in defense. Sarwan and Bravo got carried away by their own expectations and departed in quick succession.

Sarwan played one shot away from his body and was caught at first slips by Dravid off Sreesanth. Sarwan made 51 and added 72 runs for fifth wicket with Bravo before falling to Sreesanth.

The Kerala pacer was very impressive in this match and adapted to the situations quite well. If Sreesanth was bowling fast in the channel out side off stump in his first spell, he came back to ball with controlled speed and wicket to wicket line with older ball in his latter spells.

Bravo was clean bowled by Kumble for 33 and Samuels offered an easy catch to Yuvraj Singh for 5 to give Kumble his third wicket of the match. West Indies were reeling at 144 for 7, still needing 125 runs to seal victory with just three wickets in hand.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult for them with Kumble and Harbhajan bowling in tandem.

Taylor hit a few audacious drives for his 20 and then fell lbw to Kumble.

In between these falling wickets, Ramdhin showed great character to keep the West Indies spirits alive till the last wicket was down.

He played with lots of aggression to reach his test fifty. He made 62 of 85 balls with 8 fours and 1 six before running out of partners.

Kumble trapped Collins lbw in front of the wicket and then had Collymore caught behind to complete a famous Indian victory. Earlier, India held slight advantage on the third day of the last test as West Indies went to tea at 85 for 4. Chasing 269 runs to win the match and the series, West Indies lost three wickets in the session including that of skipper Brian Lara.

Darren Ganga departed fourth over after lunch falling to Sreesanth. Ganga was celan bowled by Sreesanth for 16.

But the biggest wicket to come was that of skipper Lara. On a wearing pitch and against some hostile bowling, Lara was West Indies' best hope to take fight to the Indian camp.

Lara looked good too but was castled by a Munaf delivery that sent him back lbw out for 11.

Chanderpaul was also caught in front of the wicket by Kumble and West Indies were left struggling at 56 for 4.

Vice captain Ramnaresh Sarwan and all rounder Dwayne Bravo batted with some purpose to take the West Indies to tea without any further loss. At tea Sarwan was batting on 31 and Bravo was giving him company on 13.

India was bowled out for 171, setting West Indies a target of 269 to win in the last test match here at Sabina Park. West Indies reply to Indian target didn't begin in an auspicious manner as they lost their explosive opener in the first over of second innings.

Like in the first innings, Sreesanth sent Gayle back in the first over in the second innings too. Gayle edged to the slips as West Indies lost their first wicket before opening their account.

Sreesanth bowled with a lot of fire and got enough movement and bounce off the pitch to trouble West Indies skipper Lara and opener Darren Ganga. At lunch Lara was batting on 8 and Ganga was giving him company on 10.

Earlier, Correy Collymore cleaned five Indian wickets including that of skipper Rahul Dravid as India added another 41 runs in the morning.

With enough time left in the match, India needed as many runs as possible. Dravid and Kumble defended well for first thirty minutes.

The batsmen were tested by excellent seam bowling by Collymore who looked like taking wicket every ball. Collymore struck when he had Kumble caught at slips for 10.

Harbhajan hit a well timed cover drive for four off Collymore.

The bowler responded with a beauty that took Harbhajan's edge but flew past over slip cordon to raise India's 150 in the second innings.

Dravid was finally foxed by Collymore and pitch combination.

Collymore's leg cutter lied very low and cleaned Dravid's stumps to send back the Indian skipper for 68. Harbhajan and Sreesanth batted with clear instructions to throw their bats around.

Sreesanth dealt some heavy blows, hitting Taylor for huge six over long on and taking Collymore to the third-man boundary for four.

Sreesanth jumped out of his crease to hit Taylor through the mid wicket region once more in the next over but didn't manage to negotiate steep bounce and offered a simple catch to Lara for 16.

Collymore sent Harbhajan back next over for 9 to end the Indian second innings for 171.

UNI