West Indies beat India by 7 wickets

Saturday, 18 June 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Darren Bravo lashed a career-best 86 and Ramnaresh Sarwan supplied a well-crafted 75 as West Indies beat India by seven wickets with eight balls to spare in the fifth and final cricket one-day international at Sabina Park on Thursday.

India, despite losing the last two matches, won the series 3-2 ahead of the Test series which begins on the same ground on Monday.

Bravo and Sarwan shared a match-winning partnership of 103, which was the backbone of the hosts’ successful victory charge to 3-255 off 48.4 overs.

The visitors were all out for 251 off 47.3 overs after half centuries from Virat Kohli (94) and Rohit Sharma (57).

Andre Russell’s 4-35 helped stem the tourists’ momentum at a crucial stage and they lost their last seven wickets for just 62 runs.

West Indies’ pursuit was stalled early as medium pacer Vinay Kumar claimed the in-form Lendl Simmons after a top-edge to third man at 12-1.

Adrian Barath lived a charmed life, having four chances during his 17 off 46 balls before departing to legspinner Amit Mishra at 53-2 in the 16th over.

Sarwan began the home team’s revival, being the more adventurous as Bravo struggled to settle in.

The right-hander cracked five fours and a six off 94 balls but was forced to retire hurt with severe cramps with the match in the balance with 96 required off the last 12 overs.

Bravo took charge after that, dominating in the powerplay to smash five of his six sixes. The left-hander also hit three fours off 99 balls.

Bravo was closing in on a maiden century when he missed a Mishra googly and was stumped to give India hope at 3-213 in the 46th over.

But Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard calmly guided West Indies home in an unbroken stand of 42 off 21 balls.

Pollard hit a six and three fours in an unbeaten 24 off 13 balls, including the winning boundary with eight balls to spare.

Samuels, who hit three fours off one over from Vinay Kumar and ended 28 not out off 24 balls, sprinted over to square leg once the victory was complete to salute former skipper Chris Gayle in the crowd.