PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad), April 7: A classy century from Ramnaresh Sarwan led West Indies to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second test on Sunday to tie the two-Test series at 1-1.

Guyanese pair Sarwan (102) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (86 not out) put on 157 for the fourth wicket after West Indies, chasing a target of 253, were in trouble at 73 for three.

The win means West Indies have ended their losing streak of seven consecutive Test series and foils Sri Lanka’s hopes of a first series win in the Caribbean.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul turned the innings around with a display of patient and considered batting which was exactly what was required at a delicate stage of an absorbing Test match.

Sarwan’s century was his 10th in Tests but first in nearly two years — his last came against India on June 22, 2006.

Sri Lanka had pinned their hopes on a breakthrough with the new ball and that was delivered when Tillekeratne Dilshan took a superb catch to dismiss Gayle for 10 when the left-hander tried an ambitious drive off a full-length Thilan Thushara delivery.Chaminda Vaas then trapped debutant Sewnarine Chattergoon lbw for 11 with a ball that swung into the left-hander, reducing the hosts to 24 for two.

Marlon Samuels and Sarwan added 49 for the third wicket with Sarwan looking in confident form, striking three beautifully timed boundaries off Thushara, before Vaas struck again.

Samuels was caught out by a well-disguised slower delivery and, having committed himself to the drive, his attempt to pull out of the shot was too late to stop the ball flying to Malinda Warnapura who took an excellent low catch.

Sarwan and Chanderpaul batted throughout the afternoon session, taking few changes and utilising some smart running between the wickets.

Sarwan looked confident against Muttiah Muralitharan, using his feet well to counter the spin, while left-hander Chanderpaul played a vital and intelligent supporting role.

Muralitharan finally got Sarwan, caught bat-pad by Dilshan at silly point, and the West Indies vice-captain was replaced by Devon Smith with just 23 required to win.

Given West Indies’ record of batting collapses in recent years some tension remained but Smith settled their nerves with two well-timed fours and the win was in the bag.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA (1st Innings) 278 (L.P.C. Silva 76, T.M. Dilshan 62; F.H. Edwards 4-84).

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 294 (R.R. Sarwan 57; M. Muralitharan 5-79).

SRI LANKA (2nd Innings) 268 (T.T. Samaraweera 125; J.E. Taylor 4-52).

WEST INDIES (2nd Innings):

C.H. Gayle c Dilshan b Thushara 10

S. Chattergoon lbw b Vaas 11

R.R. Sarwan c Dilshan b Murali 102

M.N. Samuels c Warnapura b Vaas 11

S. Chanderpaul not out 86

D.S. Smith not out 14

EXTRAS (B-11, LB-2, W-2, NB-5) 20

TOTAL (for four wkts, 68.3 overs) 254

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-24, 3-73, 4-230.

BOWLING: Vaas 17-2-52-2; Thushara 12-3-49-1 (1nb, 2w); Amerasinghe 13-0-43-0; Muralitharan 24.3-4-92-1 (4nb); Silva 2-0-5-0.

RESULT: West Indies won by six wickets (series drawn 1-1).

UMPIRES: B.F. Bowden (New Zealand and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: G. Greaves (West Indies).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ramnaresh Sarwan.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Ramnaresh Sarwan.

FIRST TEST: Providence, Sri Lanka won by 121 runs.—Reuters