Kingston (Jamaica), July 3: India pulled off an emphatic 49-run win in the fourth and final Test against the West Indies at the Sabina Park on Sunday to clinch their first series in the Caribbean in 35 years.

Requiring 269 for a win, the hosts were bundled out for 219 in their second innings courtesy Anil Kumble, who finished with fantastic figures of 22.4-3-78-6. The leg-spinner was introduced into the Indian attack a bit late, went for runs midway through but captain Rahul Dravid’s persistence paid off as the veteran had the Windies wobbling.

Soon, the wheels came off in the form of Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor, Pedro Collins and Corey Collymore as the Indians raced towards a historic win: They had last won a series in the Caribbean back in 1971 under Ajit Wadekar’s captaincy. It also meant India had won a series of note (barring the victory over Zimbabwe in 2005) outside the sub-continent for the first time in two decades, after the win against England in 1986.

Kumble provided the finishing touch but it was Sreesanth who started the slide. The spirited seamer got rid of the openers to give India a headstart before coming back to provide the vital breakthrough after Ramnaresh Sarwan (51) and Dwayne Bravo (33) had threatened to pull the game away with a 70-run partnership for the fifth wicket. The 23-year-old sent down a brilliant delivery that moved after pitching and Sarwan nicked it to Dravid in the slips, West Indies 126/5.

Two runs later, Bravo was gone as he tried to whack Kumble out of sight only to see his stumps shattered. That was virtually the last straw as wickets kept falling regularly from the other end even though Denesh Ramdin (62 not out, 8x4, 1x6) attempted a late charge.

Dravid spread the field for Ramdin and tried to choke the taileders at the other end. It worked, and the Indian celebrations began when Collymore tried to cut Kumble and the edge landed in wicketkeeper Dhoni’s gloves. Ecstasy!