Dinesh Karthik hit a maiden one-day half century

India clinched a tense 20-run win over West Indies in Cuttack to take an unassailable 2-0 one-day series lead.

Daren Powell's four-wicket burst left the hosts reeling on 81-6 at one point but Dinesh Karthik hit 63 to help India recover to 189 all out.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit a defiant 66 in reply but the tourists were bowled out for 169 in 48.2 overs.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar and Sachin Tendulkar shared five wickets on a turning pitch.

Chanderpaul, who hit 149 not out in the first match also chasing a lost cause, was the last man out, bowled by left-arm paceman Zaheer Khan.

West Indies' hopes suffered an early blow when Chris Gayle - standing in as captain with Brian Lara resting a knee problem - was trapped lbw by Ajit Agarkar's first delivery.

Devon Smith followed shortly afterwards, run out by substitute Suresh Raina for 15.

Marlon Samuels added one run to the total before he too was sent back, caught off Harbhajan Singh at forward short leg.

Dwayne Bravo made 31 from 33 balls but his quickfire innings came to an end in similar fashion, for Powar's first scalp.

Powell dismissed India's three most experienced batsmen

Dwayne Smith joined Chanderpaul in a 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket before Smith went for a big shot off Sachin Tendulkar, skying to deep mid-wicket.

Earlier Powell recorded his best ODI figures in a single, miserly 10-over spell, including Sourav Ganguly (13), Rahul Dravid (22) and Sachin Tendulkar for a duck.

However, Karthik played solidly and in Agarkar finally found a partner willing to stick around as they made 62 for the eighth wicket

Karthik's excellent innings came to an end when he tried to guide the ball fine but missed and was bowled by left-armer Ian Bradshaw.

Agarkar (40) was the last man out, run out by fancy footwork from Bravo after putting on what turned out to be a vital 26 with Zaheer for the final wicket.

The third episode in the four-match series will be played in Chennai (Madras) on Saturday.

Afterwards India captain Rahul Dravid said: "When we went to West Indies last year we lost 4-1. It is nice to return the compliment and win these tight games."

West Indies stand-in captain Chris Gayle said: "It wasn't easy to bat out there but we have to deal with the situation we have been given.