Gros Islet, St. Lucia -- July 4, 2009 -- West Indies went down to India by six wickets in a the 3rd One-Day International against India at Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on Friday. Due to steady rain all day, there were several rain interruptions and the visitors eventually won with one ball to spare in what was a very close encounter.

The match was originally reduced to 27 overs and the West Indies reached 186-7. Under the Duckworth Lewis Method India’s target was set at 195 off 27 overs. Rain intervened again and India were asked to make 159 off 22 overs. They reached the target off the penultimate ball, with captain M.S. Dhoni making an unbeaten 46 off 34 balls to win the Man-of-the-Match award.

Earlier in the day, Ramnaresh Sarwan batted brilliantly to post 62 from 59 balls for the West Indies, after captain Chris Gayle got the innings off to a flying start with 27 off 14. Darren Bravo made a classy 21 from 15 balls in his second international innings.

Gayle noted: “The weather was beyond our control so we can’t have any complaints there. Sarwan played really well and Darren Bravo played a good innings as well. When we bowled, their openers got off to a flier but in the end we pulled it back and got some key wickets in the India innings. Dhoni is in good form and batted really well to take his team to victory.”

India’s victory gave them a 2-1 lead on the four-match series. The final match is on Sunday at Beausejour at 9.30 am (8.30 am Jamaica Time).