West Indies pegged India back after a lightning start

West Indies overcame a blazing start by India to secure a three-wicket win in the third one-day game in Madras.

Opener Robin Uthappa smashed 70 from 41 balls to take India to 95-2 in the 11th over but they were bowled out for 268.

Sachin Tendulkar (60) and Rahul Dravid (57) put on 106 but Dwayne Bravo took 4-39 as the last five wickets fell for 13 runs in the space of just six overs.

Marlon Samuels hit 98 and captain Brian Lara 83 as the tourists cruised home with six overs to spare.

The result leaves the series at 2-1 to India with the final match in Baroda on Wednesday.

The touring team's chase got off to the worst possible start when Chris Gayle was lbw first ball to Ajit Agarkar.

But Agarkar's opening partner Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was inconsistent and the decision to pick only two pace bowlers was made to look foolish.

Runako Morton, hit on the back of the head by a throw from the field, managed just a single but Samuels shared stands of 65 with Devon Smith (33) and 127 with Lara.

Samuels, who scored heavily on the off side with 12 boundaries, was stopped short of his third ODI century when caught behind flashing at a ball from Agarkar that kept low to edge behind.

But Lara carried his side to within 12 runs of victory with a stylish innings, ended as he looked for a second six off portly spinner Ramesh Powar.

That was the first of three wickets as Bravo and Lendl Simmons both departed before Denesh Ramdin hit the winning runs.

Had a further wicket fallen, Caribbean fans may have questioned the decision to rest in-form batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

Opener Uthappa starred in just his fourth international

Lara, back in the side after a match off to rest a knee problem, appeared to have made the wrong decision when he put the home side in to bat.

Uthappa replaced veteran Sourav Ganguly in an experimental line-up to play just his fourth international and made the most of the opportunity.

Bravo's first over was a chastening experience as he was hit for 19 by Uthappa, including a huge six over long-off.

For a good while the ground record of 327 looked in danger but the wickets of Dravid and Tendulkar in the space of three overs finally calmed the pace.

Gayle's beguiling off-spin finally saw Dravid caught at the long-on fence, while Tendulkar was undone by a leaping catch by Morton at mid-on.

And, after Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik fell to Bravo's extra bounce in the 42nd over, the tail was unable to see out the full 50 overs.