West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul celebrates hitting the winning six in the first One day International against Sri Lanka at Queen's Park Oval on Thursday. The teams meet in the second game of the three-match series at the same venue today. - photo by Dellmar

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul said his plan was to give the last ball everything he had, prior to smashing the delivery from Chaminda Vaas for six to win the opening One-Day International against Sri Lanka Thursday.

"I'm happy, I"m very, very happy. I prayed and prayed and asked God to give me the strength to hit that ball out of the ground. The plan was to fire as hard as I could," he said.

"I watched the ball until it went over, then I was able to jump up. When it dropped over the rope then I was happy to celebrate.

"I was looking for anything. I was looking for a slower ball, a wide ball, I was looking for whatever Vaas had up his sleeve. I didn't have to do all that. He sent down a full toss and I just had to fire and fire hard."

10 runs to win

Chasing 236 for victory, West Indies required 10 runs from the last two balls of the match with Chanderpaul on strike.

The resilient left-hander stroked the fifth ball down the ground for four and then swung the final one over wide mid-wicket for six, to clinch a miraculous one-wicket win at the Queen's Park Oval.

"The second last ball I knew I just had to hit. I was looking to get under it but I then had to hit it straight and hard. I timed that one very well," Chanderpaul said.

The 33-year old, whose brilliant 62 came off 63 balls, said the effort was made more difficult as he was battling a bout of flu.

"I am still suffering a bit, but I knew with God's help it could happen for us today. I have not recovered from the flu properly," he revealed.

"I was shaking out there all day and I was feeling weak. When I went to bat I was trembling and I was still struggling, but it worked out for me."

It has been a great week for Chanderpaul. On Sunday he made a brave 86 not out as the Windies won the second Test at the same venue to level the series 1-1.