India win ODI series in West Indies

St. Lucia (Gros Islet), July 6 : India won the One-day international cricket series against West Indies 2-1 after the fourth and the final match was washed out by rain at Beausejour Stadium here Sunday.

The Indian team which was under fire back home after their World Twenty20 debacle in England brought some cheers, winning their fifth ODI series on trot and their first in Caribbean soil after seven years.

India led the closely fought series 2-1 going into the final match Sunday. But early morning rain delayed the start and forced the match being reduced to 49-overs-per side.

Put into bat, West Indies skipper Chris Gayle was dismissed for a two-ball duck, caught behind off Ishant Sharma (1-17).

Ramnaresh Sarwan (12) and Runako Morton (12) took the hosts to 27-1 in 7.4 overs when play was halted by a downpour.

Although the rainfall later ceased, there was too much water in the outfield for play to resume. After over two hours of waiting, the game was called off by umpires Clyde Duncan and Nigel Llong.

India won the first ODI at Kingston by 20 runs but not before West Indies came close to chasing the 340-run target.

The home team made a strong comeback in the second ODI, winning by eight-wickets.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been in good form in the tournament, led the side from the front in the tense third ODI for a six wicket victory.

--IANS