But the Black Caps top order have now been challenged to imitate him after his composed innings guided the West Indies to a 1-0 lead in the rain-swamped one-day cricket series in Christchurch last night.
Sarwan averaged only 6.66 from three innings during two drawn tests, but he has swiftly shown his worth in the limited overs format.
A perfectly timed 67 from 65 balls under lights at AMI Stadium proved the significant point of difference at the West Indies calmly completed a five-wicket win with just one ball remaining of a contest shortened to 28 overs per side after four hours were wiped out by rain.
Sarwan and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin -- another who failed to make a favourable impression during the tests -- reduced a formidable equation with ridiculous ease, finding the required 40 runs from the final four overs to give the tourists a morale-boosting win.
New Zealand, who had been expected to dominant the one-day series, must now win here at Westpac Stadium on Wednesday to keep the five-match rubber alive after the opener in Queenstown was washed out.
While Tim Southee and Jeetan Patel were the falls guys in the critical overs as Sarwan and Ramdin made light of their task, New Zealand coach Andy Moles and captain Daniel Vettori agreed the home side's hopes had effectively been dashed by an under performing batting unit.
New Zealand were disadvantaged by the rain delay given they set off expecting a full allocation of 50 overs, but the application when resuming at 26 for one after 6.5 overs was patently lacking.
Brendon McCullum had been and gone before the rain and Jesse Ryder, Jamie How, Ross Taylor and Daniel Flynn could not cobble a substantial innings as New Zealand slumped to 87 for five in the 20th over.
New Zealand eventually scrambled to 152 for eight, at least 30 runs short of a par score, according to Moles and Vettori.
"My message to the top five was they needed to take more responsibility," Moles said.
"The opposition had one player bat all the way through (Sarwan) and it showed if you've got some one you can bat around you can set targets and chase targets."
Sarwan took guard in the fourth over after opener Sewnarine Chattergoon departed and kept the score ticking over nicely until upping the ante with Ramdin at the death.
Moles said he would be reinforcing his message to the specialist batsmen in the lead-up to the second and final day-nighter.
"We don't want to be more than three down after 35 overs because with the people we've got to come, we can chase or set a formidable total."
McCullum and Ryder would not be instructed to temper their expansive approach, leaving the likes of How and Flynn to form a base the strokemakers can bat around.
Vettori eyed Sarwan's contribution with envy.
"He took the game away from us, he played extremely well. No one in the top five really stood and took control of the game like Sarwan did."
Sarwan, who averages 44.77 from 74 ODIs, was understandably delighted to adopt the role of saviour in the absence of Shivnarine Chanderpaul -- and after the destructive Chris Gayle was bowled by Vettori for 36 when 97 runs were still required from 16.2 overs.
"We really needed someone to bat through from the top three and the most important thing at that point (after Chattergoon and Gayle were dismissed) was to form a partnership. The one I formed with Denesh (48 from 32 balls) really came at the right time."
Even when the run rate required reached double figures, Sarwan still considered victory achievable.
"We needed one big over to bring us right back. That's what we were trying to focus on -- trying to get one big over within those last four."
They duly took 10 off Kyle Mills' final over before plundering 12 from Southee and another 14 from Patel to ultimately cross the line with singles.
Moles was also unhappy when the bowling deteriorated, believing a win should still have been closed out despite Sarwan.
"When they needed 18-20 off the last two, from that position we should win the game."
On a brighter note he felt when a one-dayer eventually runs its full course New Zealand should dominate.
"I'm desperate for a 100-over game. I still believe our strength and depth will come to the fore."
The weather forecast is for fine weather on Wednesday.
