THE last pair of Kemar Roach and Tino Best added a priceless 10 runs to complement opener Johnson Charles’ swashbuckling 97 as the West Indies pulled off a nerve-wracking one-wicket win against India in yesterday’s Celkon Mobile Cup match at Sabina Park.

Scores: West Indies 230-9 (47.4); India 229-7 (50 overs).

The win was the West Indies’ second in as many outings in the Tri-Nation tournament after the six-wicket demolition of Sri Lanka at the same venue last Friday.

Big left-hander Christopher Gayle was not able to replicate his century-making heroics of the opening match with Sri Lanka. Upon reaching 11, he popped a catch to Suresh Raina at short cover off the hard-working pacer Umesh Yadav.

Charles was predictably given the man-of-the-match award for his top score of 97 off a 100 balls, which included eight boundaries and four sixes — most of which were bludgeoned down the ground.

The 24-year-old was sent packing with the regional side, at 211-8, when he tried to crunch Yadav’s ball through the off-side but saw his mistimed effort fly into the hands of Ishant Sharma at deepish mid-off. But it was the heroics of the two tail-enders which took the West Indies over the tape after India struggled to 229-7 on a

pitch which made fluent stroke play difficult — particularly early in the day — due to its slow nature.

Left-hander Darren Bravo, who belted five fours and a six, struck a composed 55 to share in a 116-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles, but the former’s dismissal brought the score to 142-4 and triggered a wretched batting collapse that saw the home team teetering on 220-9.

India closed in like sharks

for the kill, however Best and Roach survived several nervous moments to carry the West Indies over the line.

The 25-year-old Yadav, who bowled with decent pace throughout, took 3-43 to end as India’s chief wicket-taker.

Noticeably, both India and the West Indies ended the day without their regular captains.

West Indies handed Kieron Pollard a maiden role as skipper after One-Day International captain Dwayne Bravo missed out due to a groin strain. India’s Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who made 27 in his side’s innings, injured his hamstring and played no part in the match after the lunch interval. Captaincy duties were given to Virat Kohli.

Earlier, India were asked to take first strike on a pitch which held a dark hue, suggesting early moisture in the surface. The visitors lost left-handed batting sensation Shikhar Dhawan (11) to pacer Kemar Roach with the score on 25.

The 27-year-old, the player of the tournament during India’s triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, confidently advanced down the wicket to the 10th delivery he faced, but succeeded in punching the back-of-a-length delivery straight at the bowler, who gleefully caught on the second attempt.

Number three bastman Virat Kohli used his feet in a similarly positive mood, but he went to the first ball of Sammy’s second over to leave India on 39-2.

The prolific ODI batsman reached 11 before his attempted off-drive had him edging to Gayle, who held on brilliantly to his right with a one-handed effort.

Despite wickets falling around him, Sharma did his best to push the Indians along, smartly picking the deliveries to attack and scored most of his runs square or backwards of the wicket. In his attractive 60 off 89 balls, he hit four boundaries and a lone six. An uppercut for six off a steaming Best early in his knock and a collection of wristy late dabs were a treat for fans. But he fell to a Sammy slower delivery that he lofted to Charles at long-off with India at 124-4.

After his demise, the rest of the batsmen were not able to loosen the shackles under conditions which proved tricky with some balls gripping on surface.

The World Twenty20 champions, West Indies, could also take credit for another disciplined bowling effort which restricted the ICC World Cup title-holders to 229-7.

Sri Lanka, the other team in this Tri-Nation tournament, will meet India at the same venue tomorrow.

Thereafter, the competition moves to Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago. West Indies, who got a bonus point in the victory over Sri Lanka, lead the standings with nine points. Both Asian teams are winless and without a point.