Kuala Lumpur, Sept 14 :

India’s Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his return to international cricket with an unbeaten 141 on Thursday, but the masterly knock went in vain as the West Indies were declared winner of the rain-marred limited overs match.

Chasing a massive 309-5, West Indies were 141-2 after 20 overs when a steady drizzle soaked the Kinrara Oval, forcing the match to be abandoned.

West Indies were deemed to have won by 29 runs as they needed only 112-2 after 20 overs to tie the match under the Duckworth-Lewis formula. The credit for the victory clearly went to opener Chris Gayle who slaughtered the Indian attack, making 45 runs in 35 balls with nine fours. The ferocity of the attack was clear from the fact that fellow opener Shivnarine Chanderpaul scored only six of the 32 runs in the first wicket partnership.

Ramnaresh Sarwan made 37 and captain Brian Lara smashed 27 in 30 balls with four fours to help accelerate the scoring rate to 7.14 per over. The unexpected West Indies victory overshadowed Tendulkar’s 40th one-day century. His knock on Thursday was built around a 125-run, second-wicket partnership with Pathan, who smashed 64.

Rahul Dravid (26) and Tendulkar laid the foundation for the massive score with a 75-run first wicket partnership. Tendulkar teamed up with Suresh Raina (34) for a 68-run, fifth wicket partnership. The last 10 overs produced 89 runs, largely due to a display of power-hitting from Tendulkar, whose 148-ball knock included 13 fours and five sixes.