BASSETERRE (St Kitts), May 24: Ramnaresh Sarwan struck a century to steer West Indies to a four-wicket win over India in the third One-day International on Tuesday (partly reported in Wednesday’s edition).

The hosts surpassed India's total to score 248 for six with a ball to spare, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Sarwan top-scored with a career-best 115 not out, while Shivnarine Chanderpaul chipped in with 58 during a 106-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

Indian opener Virender Sehwag looked set to guide India to a big total after smashing 96 from 83 balls but the visitors lost their way at the end of the innings, losing their last six wickets for 34 runs to finish on 245 for nine from 50 overs.

West Indies' reply began unsteadily when Marlon Samuels and Runako Morton were dismissed in the first 10 overs with just 31 runs scored.

But opener Chris Gayle and Sarwan put the home side back on track with a steady partnership of 85 for the third wicket.

The stand was ended in the 25th over when fast bowler Ajit Agarkar had Gayle caught behind by wicket-keeper Mahendra Dhoni for 40.

Three overs later India took the key wicket of Brian Lara, who attempted to work a turning delivery from off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to midwicket and steered a catch to Dravid at first slip to be dismissed for five.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul looked set to take West Indies to victory but fast bowler Irfan Pathan trapped Chanderpaul in front with a yorker length delivery that left nine runs to be scored off 10 balls.

West Indies' task was further complicated when Bravo was run out for one with the first ball of the final over, leaving Sarwan and Baugh needing five runs from four balls.

Two runs were required when Shanthakumaran Sreesanth ran in to bowl the fifth ball of the over, and Sarwan lashed it through the covers for four to end the match.

Sarwan, playing in his 100th one-day international, had to keep a cool head during his innings of 119 balls in which he hit 10 fours and two sixes.

The fourth match of the series will be played in Trinidad on Friday.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

V. Sehwag lbw b Bravo 97

R. Dravid lbw b Bradshaw 0

S.K. Raina b Bradshaw 26

Mohammad. Kaif run out 61

M.S. Dhoni run out 15

Y. Venugopal Rao run out 11

Irfan Pathan c and b Samuels 1

R.R. Powar b Sarwan 1

A.B. Agarkar c Lara b Bravo 8

Harbhajan Singh not out 8

S. Sreesanth not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-11, NB-1) 16

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 245

FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-62, 3-174, 4-211, 5-216, 6-219, 7-224, 8-233, 9-243.

BOWLING: Bradshaw 8-2-40-2; Edwards 9-0-49-0 (1nb, 8w); Taylor 4-0-30-0; Samuels 10-0-41-1 (3w); Bravo 7-0-45-2; Gayle 10-0-35-0; Sarwan 1-0-1-1.

WEST INDIES:

C.H. Gayle c Dhoni b Agarkar 40

M.N. Samuels lbw b Sreesanth 11

R.S. Morton lbw b Agarkar 0

R.R. Sarwan not out 115

B.C. Lara c Dravid b Harbhajan 5

S. Chanderpaul lbw b Pathan 58

D.J.J. Bravo run out 1

C.S. Baugh not out 1

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-9, NB-2) 17

TOTAL (for six wkts, 49.5 overs) 248

DID NOT BAT: I.D.R. Bradshaw, J.E. Taylor, F.H. Edwards.

FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-31, 3-116, 4-131, 5-237, 6-241.

BOWLING: Irfan Pathan 9-0-50-1 4 (4w); Agarkar 10-1-31-2 (1nb); Sreesanth 9.5-0-57-1 (1nb, 1w); Harbhajan Singh 10-1-33-1 (2w); Powar 10-1-59-0 (2w); Sehwag 1-0-11-0.

UMPIRES: S.A. Bucknor (West Indies) and Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

TV UMPIRE: B.R. Doctrove (West Indies).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ramnaresh Sarwan.—Agencies