Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Lara praises Sarwan and Chanderpaul after West Indies victory

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

by: Gary Smith
Caribbean Net News Sports Correspondent
Email: gary@caribbeannetnews.com

BASSETERRE, St Kitts: West Indies captain Brian Lara, the triple world record holder with the bat, praised team mates Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul after the West Indies defeated India in the third One-Day International cricket match at Warner Park in St Kitts on Tuesday.

Sarwan celebrated his 100th one-day international appearance with an unbeaten 115 and together with former skipper Chanderpaul, who hit 58 from 68 balls, guided the home side to an exciting four-wicket victory with just one ball to spare.

"We depended a lot on Sarwan for a tremendous innings, and on Chanderpaul," Lara told reporters after the game. "He (Chanderpaul) was injured, and for him to see it through almost to the end was a special effort."

Coming at the crease with the Windies at two for 31, Sarwan slammed 10 boundaries and two sixes from 119 deliveries, at a healthy strike rate of 96.63, which left Lara full of praises for the 25-year old Guyanese right hander.

"We all know he's a great little player, and we just want to see more consistency from him," Lara said.

In the meantime, Lara also said that he hopes the team doesn't start depending on Sarwan's innings to win games.

"I don't want it to start depending on Sarwan now," Lara said. "Chris played well, as did Chanderpaul. It's also important that we see some inexperienced or younger players, ones who are tossing up for a spot in the team, come forward and make a name for themselves.

"Sarwan, as we know, is someone who is there in the team. But we expect Dwayne Bravo, Runako Morton and Marlon Samuels to come forward and produce something that's going to benefit the team," he added.

The fourth and fifth one-day internationals will be played at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Friday and Sunday.

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