India slammed 11 runs off the last over as they stunned West Indies by six wickets in the rain-marred third Digicel one-day international to take an impregnable 2-1 lead in the four-match series yesterday.

Chasing a revised target of 159 off 22 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis Method, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni carted fast bowler Jerome Taylor's second ball of the final over over mid-wicket for six to leave India needing four runs from as many balls, and they scampered the remaining runs to win with a ball to spare.

Dhoni finished unbeaten on 46 from 34 balls to earn the Man-of-the-Match honour and ensure that tomorrow's final ODI would be must-win for the Windies.

Sent in to bat after losing the toss at the scenic Beausejour Stadium, West Indies were harassed by the bothersome rain and eventually finished 186 for seven after the match was reduced to 27 overs per side.

The weather, which caused a two-hour delay at the start and forced an initial reduction to 41 overs, returned again mid-way through the innings to cause a further reduction to 27 overs.

Ramnaresh Sarwan top-scored for the Windies with 62 from 59 balls while skipper Chris Gayle bludgeoned 27 from 14 balls with six fours at the top of the order.

Left-armer Ashish Nehra claimed three for 21 to be India's best bowler and was well supported by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who finished with two for 35.

In pursuit of 195 under the D/L Method, India got off to a merry start when Denesh Karthik and Gautam Gambhir put on an entertaining 84 off 73 balls.

Karthik stroked a top score of 47 from 43 balls, including five fours and a six, while Gambhir's 44 needed just 38 balls and contained two boundaries.

Thrilling finish

India seemed poised to run away with the game without losing a wicket but Rampaul's direct hit from point in the 13th over changed the scenario for West Indies.

Rain at 95 for one in the 14th over gave India a revised target of 159 and Dhoni then held the innings together despite the loss of three more wickets, to carry his side home in a thrilling finish.

Needing 16 from the last two overs, medium pacer Dwayne Bravo bowled a frugal over which cost five to swing the pendulum the Windies way.

Gayle then gambled with Taylor, whose previous three overs had cost 29 overs, but the move proved costly as the right-arm pacer could not contain Dhoni.

Earlier, batting first for the first time in the series, Gayle scored all 27 runs in dominating his opening stand with Runako Morton who struggled for 22 off 34 balls.

Off to a flying start

The left-handed Jamaican smashed a pair of boundaries from the innings' first over sent down by fast bowler Ishant Sharma and took another brace of fours from the right-armer's next over, as West Indies got off to a flying start.

He had clattered Nehra for two boundaries in the fourth over of the innings when the rain intervened for the second time forcing the players from the field.

When play finally resumed, Gayle fell to the first ball, caught at the wicket swishing at Nehra.

In between another break for rain, West Indies then benefited from two productive stands as Sarwan and Morton added 51 for the second wicket before Shiv Chanderpaul (15) joined Sarwan to post another 47 for the third wicket.

The right-handed Sarwan looked in great form, striking five fours and a six, before falling via the run out route for the second successive match, with West Indies 135 for four in the 21st over.