3:41 PM
Happy new year 2012
Sharma: steered India's chase
The right-handed batsman finished up unbeaten on 86 as the depleted tourists chased down a target of 226 with 22 balls to spare.
India had at one stage been 92-6 but Sharma combined with stand-in captain Harbhajan Singh (41) to get the innings back on track with a stand of 88.
They would have been set far less had it not been for Andre Russell, the all-rounder smashing 92 not out in a hurry to rescue the hosts after they too had endured a top-order collapse.
An early finish had appeared on the cards at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium
when West Indies slumped to 96-7 after being put into bat.
Opener Lendl Simmons (45) and Ramnaresh Sarwan (28) were the only members of the top six to make it to double figures.
The duo had steadied the ship with a second-wicket stand of 65 after Kirk Edwards had been caught behind by Parthiv Patel off the bowling of Munaf Patel before a run was on the scoreboard.
However, West Indies lost six wickets for 31 runs after Sarwan was run out. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra removed Marlon Samuels and debutant Danza Hyatt for a single each before having Simmons caught at slip by Virat Kohli.
With Kieron Pollard (six) and captain Darren Sammy (three) also falling cheaply, it was left to Russell and Carlton Baugh to perform a salvage operation.
The pair added 78 for the eighth wicket and despite Baugh being caught at cover off Munaf Patel's bowling, the platform had been set for a late onslaught.
Russell certainly didn't disappoint - the promising young all-rounder blasted eight fours and five sixes during his career-best knock that took only 64 balls. He managed to take the last two overs of the innings for 35 runs.
Not content with his heroics with the bat, he was then involved in the dismissals of Subramaniam Badrinath - run out for 11 - and opener Parthiv Patel, who he caught at point off the bowling of leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo.
A spectacular catch by Simmons, diving backwards at mid-wicket, also saw the back of the dangerous Yusuf Pathan as India found themselves in a situation similar to the one experienced by their opponents earlier on.
But, just like West Indies had done, India managed to form a crucial partnership just when they needed it the most.
After a cautious start Harbhajan blossomed with the longer he batted. He took 14 runs off the first five balls of one over from Russell but then perished to the last delivery, lofting a shot high in the air for wicketkeeper Baugh to pouch.
Praveen Kumar quickly killed off any hopes West Indies might have had of making a late fightback with a rapid 25 not out that included two sixes.
He was as the non-striker's end when Sharma finished off the job with a four over mid-wicket, maintaining India's perfect start as they sealed the series with two matches still left to play.
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