Darren Bravo and Ramnaresh Sarwan struck half-centuries to enable the West Indies clinch a comfortable seven-wicket win against India in the fifth and final ODI of the series at the Sabina Park here Thursday.
India, however, won the series 3-2, but the West Indies will carry the confidence gained from winning the last two ODIs into the three-match Test series starting Monday.
The West Indies also suffered similar results against Pakistan, winning the last two ODI after the series was already lost.
On Thursday, the controverial Chris Gayle, from the stands, watched his team earn a consolation win in the fifth ODI, which meant little for India.
The West Indies did every thing right from winning the toss. The bowlers did extremely well to bowl out India for 251 runs in 47.3 overs despite Virat Kohli’s 94 and Rohit Sharma’s 57.
Andre Russell continued to establish himself as a genuine all-rounder with an impressive four for 35 while Keiron Pollard and Kemar Roacch picked up two wickets each.
Sarwan (75) and Bravo (86) then played great knocks as the West Indies overhauled the target scoring 255 for three with eight balls to spare.
West Indies looked in trouble after they lost opener Lendl Simmons (6) in the fifth over following a slow start.
But Sarwan and Bravo added 103-run stand for the third wicket to take the West Indies to safe shores. It was Sarwan’s best innings since making a comeback to the team. He hit five fours and a six in his 94-ball innings before retiring due to cramps.
The left-handed Bravo also delivered his best in international cricket — hitting three fours and six sixes in his 99-ball knock.
West Indies needed to get 80 from the last 10 overs, but Marlon Samuels (28 not out) and Kieron Pollard (24 not out) guided them home easily.
Samuels, who hit the winning runs, rushed to the stands to celebrate with fellow Jamaican and former captain Gayle.
Earlier, Kohli (94) and Sharma (57) helped India set a 252-run target with their 110-run partnership.
India were off to a bad start on a juicy Sabina Park wicket, losing openers Shikhar Dhawan (11) and Parthiv Patel (6) with 21 runs on the board in the first seven overs.
Manoj Tiwary (22), who had opened in the fourth ODI looked more comfortable in the middle order and gave good support to the in-form Kohli. But the Bengal player failed to capitalise on a good start and was caught behind off Kieron Pollard.
The onus was on Kohli and Sharma to take the team out of troubled waters. And the talented duo laid the foundation of what looked like a 275-plus total.
Kohli was in sublime form in his 104-ball knock that comprised 10 delightful boundaries.
Sharma, who has been India’s most prolific batsman in the series, played second fiddle to Kohli and was patient during his 74-ball innings. He struck two fours and a six but made sure Kohli got more strike. This was Sharma’s third half century in the series.
The visitors, however, lost way when Kohli was run out while attempting a second run with the score at 189 for four in the 36th over. The dismisal triggered a collapse as the West Indies took the last seven wickets for just 62 runs.