'I Was Looking For a Yorker'

Ramnaresh Sarwan kept his cool to claim victory for the West Indies against India in the first one-day international on Wednesday despite a late halt in play due to crowd trouble.

The 22-year-old Guyanese batsman hit a last-ball four to lift West Indies to a four-wicket win after the players had been forced off the field with three overs remaining. When they returned the West Indies lost two quick wickets and needed three from the last ball. Sarwan then hit medium pacer Ajit Agarkar past extra cover to seal victory and finish on a career-best 83 not out to be named the man of the match.

West Indies reached 284 for six in reply to India's 283 for six.

"I was always thinking positive," Sarwan told journalists after his heroics. In the past, Sarwan has blambed his loss of concentration for not converting good starts into big knocks in the past but, this time, it was different.

He displayed plenty of concentration in sharing an 87-run third wicket partnership with opener Wavell Hinds, who top-scored with 93.

With the crowd throwing empty water bottles on to the pitch, the match referee took the sides to the safety of the dressing room until the situation was brought under control.

The break seemed to help India as the well set Shivnarine Chanderpaul (23) and then Ridley Jacobs (0) both fell in quick succession.

Sarwan said: "I could see everyone standing on the dressing room balcony and that motivated me." After hitting the last ball to the boundary he threw his arms into the air in jubilation. "I was looking for a yorker. I thought the best chance would be to hit straight or through extra cover," he added.

West Indies skipper Carl Hooper congratulated his batsmen for chasing India's stiff total. "They were brilliant. It was good to see the batsmen held their nerve."