KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan followed up Andre Russell’s career-best spell with contrasting half-centuries to usher West Indies to a seven-wicket victory over India in the final One-day International yesterday at Sabina Park, Jamaica.
Bravo struck three fours and six sixes in a career-best, top score of 86 from 99 balls, and Sarwan hit five fours and one six in 75 before retiring hurt, as West Indies, chasing 252 for victory from their allocation of 50 overs, reached their target with 14 balls remaining.
Kieron Pollard carried West Indies over the finish line, when he dragged a short delivery from Ishant Sharma through mid-on for four.
The result meant West Indies regained some pride with a second straight consolation victory, with India winning the five-match series 3-2.
Russell had continued his impressive work, collecting four wickets for 35 runs from 8.3 overs, as India were dismissed for 251 in 47.3 overs after being sent in to bat.
Virat Kohli struck 10 fours in the top score of 94 from 104 balls for the visitors, and Rohit Sharma made 57 from 72 balls that included two fours and one six.
They added 110 for the fourth wicket to give India’s innings some backbone.
But Russell, playing his first international match on home soil, ran through India’s lower order batting – the visitors losing their last seven wickets for 62 in 70 balls.
West Indies were 53 for two in the 16th over, after Lendl Simmons was caught at third man off Vinay Kumar for six, and compatriot Adrian Barath was lbw to Amit Mishra for 17.
Bravo came to the crease, and got West Indies on track with Sarwan in a third-wicket stand of 103 when fortune smiled on India.
Sarwan was crippled with severe cramp in his right leg, and trudged off the field after the 38th over, leaving West Indies needing 96 from 72 balls.
Bravo reached his 50 from 78 balls, and then took charge in the Batting Power Play, smacking Mishra for two leg-side sixes, and Kumar for a six over long-off.
He was stumped off Mishra in the 46th over, leaving Pollard and Samuels to gather the remaining 39 from 29 balls.
Earlier, Russell made the breakthrough for West Indies, when he had Parthiv Patel caught at backward square leg for six hooking in the fourth over, and Kemar Roach had left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan caught at slip for 11 in the seventh over, leaving the Indians 21 for two.
West Indies were put on their heels, when Manoj Tiwary joined Kohli, putting on 58 for the third wicket before he was caught behind off Kieron Pollard for 22.
The home team continued to feel the pressure for the next 20 overs, as Kohli and Sharma repaired the damage for India, with steady batting.
A single to point off leg-spinner Anthony Martin brought Kohli to his 50 from 64 balls in the 23rd over, but he was run-out in the 36th over, and this triggered the Indian batting meltdown.
Pollard had the visitors’ captain Suresh Raina caught at deep cover for a duck in the following over, and the wickets continued to tumble for India at a regular rate, with Russell removing Yusuf Pathan for 30, as well as Mishra and Ishant for ducks.
West Indies now face India in the first of three Tests, starting on Monday at the same venue.

INDIA innings (50 overs maximum)
S. Dhawan c Sarwan b Roach    11
P. Patel c Martin b Russell    6
V. Kohli run-out (Baugh/Sarwan)    94
M. Tiwary c wkp. Baugh b Pollard    22
R. Sharma b Martin    57
S. Raina c Barath b Pollard    0
Y. Pathan c wkp. Baugh b Russell    30
R. Ashwin not out    8
A. Mishra b Russell    0
R. Vinay Kumar c wkp. Baugh b Roach    2
I. Sharma b Russell    0
Extras: (lb-1, w-19, nb-1)    21
Total: (all out, 50 overs)    251
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-21, 3-79, 4-189, 5-190, 6-225, 7-245, 8-246, 9-249.
Bowling: Roach 10-0-52-2 (w03), Sammy 6-0-48-0 (w3); Russell 8.3-0-35-4 (nb-1, w-4), Pollard 8-0-39-2 (w-2), Martin 10-1-39-1 (w-1), Simmons 5-0-37-0 (w-6).

WEST INDIES innings (target: 252 off 50 overs)
L. Simmons c Mishra b Vinay Kumar    6
A. Barath lbw b Mishra    17
R. Sarwan retired hurt    75
D.M. Bravo stp. P. Patel b Mishra    86
M. Samuels not out    28
K. Pollard not out    24
Extras: (lb-9, w-9, nb-1)    19
Total: (3 wkts, 48.4 overs)    255
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-53, 2-156 (Sarwan, retired hurt), 3-213.
Bowling: Vinay Kumar 9-2-46-1, I. Sharma 9.4-0-49-0 (w-2), Mishra 10-1-46-2 (nb-1, w-1), Ashwin 10-1-50-0 (w-2), Raina 6-0-35-0 (w-2), Pathan 1-0-7-0 (w-1), Kohli 3-0-13-0 (w-1).