Ramnaresh Sarwan of the West Indies celebrates after completing his century in the third one-day international against India in Basseterre, St. Kitts, on Tuesday. The West Indies went on to beat India by four wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series. - REUTERS
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):
RAMNARESH SARWAN is thriving on the responsibility of batting through the bulk of the overs in one-day internationals for the West Indies.
The right-handed batsman handled the task admirably in guiding West Indies to a nail-biting win over India with an unbeaten century in his 100th one-day international at Warner Park, on Tuesday when the ground staged its first international match.
"This is one of my best innings, because of the situation and the occasion," Sarwan said.
"Given the responsibility I've been given for the last couple of months, I try to enjoy it. It's not an easy job to do, but I try to enjoy it much as I can."
Sarwan finished unbeaten on 115 off 119 balls as West Indies, set a target of 246, won by four wickets with one ball to spare.
THIRD ODI CENTURY
It was Sarwan's third century to ODIs, in addition to 22 half-centuries.
"I've been trying to bat through the innings. I've done it on a few occasions, but I've been getting 70s and 80s and sometimes I come not out," he said.
"It is now about batting through the innings and taking that responsibility and build on it."
With the match interestingly set up with the West Indies on 131 for four in the 28th over, Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul teamed up for a crucial fifth wicket stand of 106.
Chanderpaul, affected by a hamstring injury, battled to hit 58.
ENJOY BATTING
"We do communicate well. We play for the same country and we've been playing for West Indies for quite some time," Sarwan said.
"We really enjoy batting together, even when we play for Guyana. That helps when you're playing at this level."
West Indies captain Brian Lara lauded the effort of Sarwan, whose century followed an unbeaten 98 in the second match of the series at Sabina Park last Saturday.
"It's nice to see him maturing as 'the' batsman in our team. That is something that has been lacking for some time," Lara said.
"It's nice to know that he has wrestled that position from everyone else.
Being the catalyst every time we move forward is great. It was a brilliant innings again, but I expect to say that often as we go on."
