India beat the West Indies by 37 runs to win the second Test and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Cameron Cuffy was the last to go as the Windies went down to defeat in a thrilling match at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

It was only the third time India have won in the West Indies, with the two previous victories also coming in Port-of-Spain.

Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra had shared five wickets as the home side, needing 313 to win, struggled to reach 263-8 in their second innings at the tea interval.

They failed to add anything to the total when tail-ender Adam Sanford went for one to become Nehra's third victim of the innings.

Srinath also finished with three wickets as India tasted victory in the Caribbean for the first time since 1976.

Cuffy fell to Zaheer Khan for four an hour after tea to leave Shivnarine Chanderpaul unbeaten on 67.

The stylish left-hander had posed a big problem to India with his solid batting, adding 73 for the fifth wicket with opener Chris Gayle (52).

India, however, improved their chances when left-arm seamer Zaheer broke the stand, having Gayle caught by Harbhajan Singh at point.

Nehra played a key role in putting India in command by dismissing Brian Lara (47) and in-form skipper Carl Hooper (22) in his opening two overs.

The West Indies suffered a big blow when Lara was caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip.

He had added just seven to his overnight score of 40 after the West Indies had resumed at 131-2.

Lara was subdued throughout his 55-minute stay at the crease on Tuesday as Srinath and Zaheer tested line and length during their opening spells.

Hooper tried to seize the initiative, pulling Zaheer for the first four of the day and then surviving a difficult chance when on 12 in a total of 151.

He failed to control his pull-shot off Srinath in the next over, but Shiv Das could not reach it after running back from square-leg.

Hooper did not curb his strokes, once lofting off-spinner Harbhajan over wide mid-on for another boundary. He eventually fell pulling, with Das making no mistake at mid-wicket.

Hooper contributed only 22 to leave his team struggling at 164-4.

Gayle and Chanderpaul also attacked the Indian bowling to ease the pressure on their team.

Gayle drove Harbhajan for two fours in an over and then drove Nehra straight for another boundary.

Chanderpaul looked solid but had only tail-enders to give him company, and they ran out before they could get within touching distance of their target.