Sarwan beat Munaf in his own game

St Kitts: Birthday boy Ramnaresh Sarwan, after giving himself a perfect gift by slamming a classy century which included six fours in an over by Munaf Patel, said he wanted to get on top of the Indian paceman before he could dominate him.

"Patel is the kind of bowler who, once he controls you, he wants to dominate you," Sarwan said after hitting a knock

of 116 the second day on Friday.

Sarwan, who celebrated his 26th birthday, said he was not aware of the fact that he could become only the third batsman to score six fours in a row when the Indian was bowling his 19th over. However, Daren Ganga suggested it and he made the effort.

"I wasn't aware of it but when I struck my fifth boundary, (Daren) Ganga told me about the six-four-in-an-over and I said okay."

Sandeep Patil and Chris Gayle have achieved the feat in the past.

Sarwan also said he did not really plan his 100 but the ton he scored at the same venue during the one-day series a month ago was indeed at the back of his mind.

"It wasn't really planned but it stayed in my mind that I had got my one-day hundred here," he said.

"I spoke to manager (Tony Howard) who said my 26th birthday would fall during this Test. I needed to remind

myself of it during the innings."

Sarwan came into this Test with only 60 runs from four innings of the first two Tests and he decided to change his

approach for this game.

"I haven't been playing well in recent days. I owed it to myself and my team," Sarwan said.

"I changed all my thinking process from the first Test in Antigua where I was a bit tentative when I started. After four day's break (after the second Test), I just realised I needed to be positive and strike the ball in front of me," he said.

Sarwan was tentative to start with on Thursday evening but blossomed out later and player several attractive strokes.

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"I just decided to play outside the line of the ball since there were a lot of shouts for LBWs in the past. It helped so I continued doing it," he said.

Sarwan had abdicated his number three position in the second Test of St Lucia but here he was back to his

accustomed spot.

"Brian asked me if I felt comfortable (before the Test) going at number three and I said yes. He wanted me to go

ahead. At number three, you have to adapt to different situations. I was too tentative. I realised if I counter

attack, I tend to play a lot better."

"We gained a lot from the first two draws. The pitches in the first two Tests were beneficial to the Indians but this

was a batting wicket."

Ganga said he was motivated by the criticism of people over his form in the first two Tests.

"A lot of people were getting a lot impatient about my own personal game. But these sort of things motivate me, Ganga

said. I have been in good form in the past two and a half years, but this is only my sixth or seventh Test in this

period."

"I am happy with my game and feel I have the ability to produce the consistency at this level. I have matured as a cricketer and am more comfortable with my game," he said.

Ganga said it had helped him that he enjoyed a good understanding with his partner and friend Chris Gayle.

"Chris and I are good friends. Sometimes I am too defensive and he is too attacking. I think it is sharing and

doing our own stuff in the middle, the understanding we have and it is reflected in our performance.

"Before the Test, I realised that I was getting the start but wasn't quite converting them."