West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (right) celebrates after teammate Devon Smith hit the winning run to hand the Caribbean side victory against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Port-of-Spain yesterday. The West Indies won by six wickets to square the series 1-1. - ap

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

Cricket fans in Trinidad and Tobago were jubilant yesterday after West Indies defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets at the Queen's Park Oval, but experts were looking critically at the team's performance.

It was the regional team's first victory at the Oval venue since 2000, when they defeated Zimbabwe.

Former chairman of the West Indies selection panel, Joey Carew, was happy and excited about the win.

"I am truly happy about the win. I have done a more in-depth analysis of our performance in the game and there are areas if we improve on, we certainly will be very competitive against the Australians.

"Obviously, the areas are consistency in batting and bowling and an improved effort in the field. Certainly, I am looking forward to further success," said the former West Indies Test opening batsman.

Another former Test opening batsman, Suruj Ragoonath, said that although the win was important for the Caribbean people, it does not camouflage the disputed issue of going into the game without a spinner.

"It was an excellent victory, long overdue. It was pleasing to see that Sarwan (Ramnaresh) and Chanderpaul (Shivnarine) came together in their match-winning partnership. The bowling still needs to be consistent," Ragoonath said.