Rain hastens India's fifth straight ODI series win

GROS-ISLET (St. Lucia) (AFP) - India clinched their fifth straight One-day International series, when rain forced the abandonment of the final ODI against West Indies on Sunday. India won the four-match series 2-1, after they won the high-scoring opening ODI by 20 runs two Fridays ago at Sabina Park in Jamaica, West Indies secured an eight-wicket victory in a low-scoring second ODI two days later at the same venue, and India won by six wickets under the Duckworth-Lewis Method.India's captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was named Man-of-the-Series. Only 7.3 overs were possible at the Beausejour Cricket Ground before a torrential downpour forced a stoppage, after India won the toss, chose to field and West Indies had reached 27 for one. The rain later stopped, but there was too much water on the outfield for play to continue, and after waiting about two hours, the umpires decided to abandon the match.Play had started an hour later than scheduled, after overnight and morning showers had left parts of the outfield sodden, and there was seepage of water from the covers onto the pitch. When play started, India had immediate success, when Ishant Sharma had Chris Gayle caught behind for a second-ball duck. Sharma and new-ball partner Ashish Nehra bowled tightly, and did not allow the West Indies batsmen the leeway to get away to a flourishing start. India thought they had made a second breakthrough, when Sharma appealed for a caught behind, after Sarwan essayed a hook at a short, rising delivery. Just when it appeared things had reached a crescendo, the rain came down, and finished things off.India's players will now enjoy a much-anticipated two-month break from the game, and West Indies will get down to business in a series against Bangladesh which features two Tests, three ODIs, and a Twenty20 International.