Mahendra Singh Dhoni came with a strike captain India has fought against the elements to defeat the West Indies by six branches, via the Duckworth-Lewis method, and to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match ODI series at the Beausejour Stadium in St Lucia on Friday.

Needing 11 runs in the last over after the target was revised to 159 from 22 overs, Dhoni (46 not 34 balls) Jerome Taylor sent the second delivery for six mid-office that the India won with a ball replacement.

The one-Dayer was almost reduced to a Twenty20 fixture as witnesses only four stops because of rain in the West Indies sleeves – including the two hours and five minutes late to start the game. The forced interruption of overs reduced to 27 on each side.

The West Indies, put into bat after Dhoni won the lottery, horse Ramnaresh Sarwan on 62 of the post 185 for a seven and India were set a revised target of 195 following the D / L method.

Visitors need a good start and Dinesh Karthik (47 from 43 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (44 of 38) did just that.

The duo put on 84 runs before launching an Karthik Ravi Rampaul finished sleeves.

Gambhir and Dhoni took the score to 95 off 13.3 overs when rain intervened for the fifth time, after 22 minutes, the target was revised to 159 in 22 overs.

Need another 64 runs from 51 deliveries, India lost Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh (2) in quick succession.

With 11 runs needed off the last seven deliveries, Rohit Sharma Dhoni too departed, leaving the team to see through. The skipper of the 34-ball unbeaten knock included a couple outside the borders of six in the last over.

If Dhoni sparkled, the opening partnership also does the job.

Karthik and Gambhir not only complement each other, but also gave visitors the perfect springboard to go to the victory after Sarwan’s 58-ball 62 guided the West Indies to 185 for seven.

Sarwan has been involved in two crucial partnerships, 51 runs with Runako Morton (22) and another 48 with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) before being exhausted in the course for a second non-existent.

Gambhir strong throw Sarwan found short of the mark.

Sleeves, five to four and six.

It was the impetus given by Captain Chris Gayle (27), which gave host to a joyous start after the match began two hours and five minutes late following a rain delay of the first reduced the match to 41 overs a side.

Gayle hit Ishant Sharma for a couple in the limits of each of his first two overs.

Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra (3 / 21) received similar treatment in his second over, another couple of boundaries before the rain intervened with the West Indies at 27 for no loss in 3.3 overs.

Play resumed after 15 minutes late, but the distraction was enough to trouble the West Indies captain, who left behind a widish delivery Nehra.

Gayle slashed the first ball after the resumption and did the rest Dhoni behind stumps. His 14-ball stay at the crease was beaten six times on the fence.

Morton (22 from 34 balls), who was a silent spectator until then was joined by Sarwan and the duo took the score to 56 with an 9.1 overs before rain intervened for a third time.

After another 15-minutes, the overs were reduced to 36 on each side.

However, rain forced play to be suspended again in two deliveries to restart with the hosts of 57 to one.

This time, play was suspended for one hour and 20 minutes before the resumption of the reduction to 27 overs a side.

Morton RP Singh received four, but fell shortly after.

Sarwan but did not let the stops on his pace as he took 16 s’écoule un Yuvraj to help guests pass the 100-word mark in 16 overs.

With highly experienced Chanderpaul, the duo has put forward the 48 tracks left out trying to raise half Yusuf Pathan and Nehra do the rest.

Arm-left leader Nehra was the pick of Indian bowlers, taking three for 21 counters tracks off his five overs.

This time, play was suspended for one hour and 20 minutes before the resumption of the reduced to 27 overs-a-side.

Morton RP Singh received four, but fell shortly after, failing to read Harbhajan Singh doosra and was stumped by Dhoni for reading 78 for two.

Sarwan but did not let the stops on his pace as he took 16 runs to more Yuvraj Singh to help guests pass the 100-word mark in 16 overs.

With highly experienced Chanderpaul, the duo has put forward the 48 tracks left out trying to raise half Yusuf Pathan and Nehra do the rest.

Arm-left leader Nehra was the pick of Indian bowlers, taking three for 21 counters tracks off his five overs.

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