India claimed victory with one ball remaining in a rain-hit third one-day international against West Indies in St Lucia.

Set a revised target of 159 from 22 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method, Mahendra Singh Dhoni's unbeaten 46 guided them home for the loss of just four wickets.

West Indies had earlier made 185 from 27 overs, Ramnaresh Sarwan hitting a solid 62, but it proved not enough as India took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-four series.

Windies captain Chris Gayle made a typically bullish start to proceedings as he smashed Ishant Sharma and Ashish Nehra around the park to register six boundaries in a 14-ball 27 before falling to the latter with first ball after a rain break.

Runako Morton added 24 before he was stumped by Dhoni off Harbhajan Singh, but Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (15) took the score to 125 before the latter fell in the 19th over.

Sarwan's 59-ball stand, which featured five fours and a six, was ended just two overs later as he was run out attempting a second run after playing to square leg.

Dwayne Bravo (13) and Darren Bravo (21) helped the Windies total on its way, while Dinesh Ramdin pushed the mark higher in the final knockings as he belted a four and a six from six deliveries faced.

Openers Dinesh Karthik and Gautam Gambhir got India off to a promising start as they initially chased 195 for victory.

The openers put on 84 for the first wicket as more rain saw the target revised down before Karthik was run out for 47 attempting a quick single.

Gambhir fell, caught behind by Ramdin off Sulieman Benn, for 44, while Yuvraj Singh (two) and Rohit Sharma (11) were also dismissed, but Dhoni kept a cool head at the death to help India over the line.