West Indies opener Johnson Charles hits a six on the offside during the CELKON tri-nation one-day international cricket match at Sabina Park yesterday. West Indies won by one wicket. - Ian Allen

Opener Johnson Charles, while happy with the West Indies win, is very disappointed at his failure to get a hundred against India in the Celkon Mobile Cup tri-nation one-day international match on Sunday at Sabina Park.

Charles, who was named Man of the Match, made a topscore of 97 as the West Indies recorded a nail-biting one-wicket win over the ICC Champions Trophy kingpins.

India batted first and made 229 off their allotted 50 overs, and the West Indies replied with 230 for nine with 14 balls remaining. "I am very disappointed not to get to three figures .... and in the process carry the team home to victory. But that's cricket. Things like that happen," Charles said.

massive sixes

The 23-year-old St Lucian, who made his one-day international debut last year, was a picture of poise and purpose during his innings which lasted 100 balls and included four massive sixes and eight fours.

Charles said his aim going into Sunday's match was to better the 29 off 58 balls he made in the series' first match against Sri Lanka.

"I struggled a bit in the first match. I thought about it and came out with a little more intensity," he said.

Charles had to bat the West Indies out of trouble as they lost Chris Gayle, Devon Smith and Marlon Samuels with just 26 runs on the board. The St Lucian then shared a fourth-wicket stand of 116 with Darren Bravo to put the West Indies on the road to victory.

"In any game, once you are 26 for three, it will put pressure on the batting team. But my job is to try and bat through innings, and score as many runs as I can," said Charles, who has to date scored two centuries in 16 one-day internationals at an average of 37.06. He is yet to represent the West Indies in Tests.

"Bravo and I have put in a lot of big partnerships (before), and I enjoy batting with him," he added.

West Indies will next turn their attention to their return-leg fixture against India, which will be played at Queen's Park Oval, Trinidad and Tobago, on Friday.

A victory in that match will see the West Indies advancing to the final on Sunday at the same venue.