Dravid steers India to victory after early scares

West Indies 201 India 202-7 India win by three wickets

India will face the West Indies in a deciding game in Vijayawada on Sunday after levelling the one-day international series at three apiece here yesterday.

It was an edgy win for an India side without Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Zaheer Khan. Having dismissed the West Indies for a comparatively low score of 201, the hosts slipped to 48 for 3 in reply, Vasbert Drakes claiming two wickets. However, a 99-run stand for the fourth wicket between Yuvraj Singh and Rahul Dravid turned things around and, despite a spell when they lost three batsmen for one run, India had just enough left in reserve to achieve the required total.

Dravid, who was captain in Ganguly's absence, compiled a patient 58 while Singh struck a rapid 54 as India reached their target with more than three overs to spare.

The West Indies had earlier committed the cricketing sin of not batting out their 50 overs, being dismissed midway through the 47th.