Carlton Baugh Jnr. fails to get home despite a desperate attempt as the West Indies second innings comes to an end at Kensington Oval yesterday. Baugh, who scored 18, held up Australia for a while and prevented them from winning by an innings. - Dellmar BRIDGETOWN, Reuters:
AUSTRALIA BEAT West Indies by nine wickets in the third Test yesterday to go 3-0 ahead in the four-match series and stay on course for an unprecedented Caribbean whitewash.
The series win sent Australia back to the world Test rankings, above South Africa, while West Indies lost three home Tests in a row for the first time.
Australia can complete the misery for Brian Lara's young team by winning the final Test in Antigua starting on Friday.
Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, following up on his 4-107 in the first innings, finished with 5-75 as West Indies, following on in their second innings and needing 277 to make Australia bat again, were all out for 284.
Australia, set eight to win, lost a wicket in the process as Jermaine Lawson completed a split hat-trick.
Lawson, who took the last two wickets with successive balls in the Australian first innings, had Justin Langer lbw for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings.
Australia reached their target in 2.3 overs, Darren Lehmann making four and Matthew Hayden two with two extras. Number three Ricky Ponting had a viral infection and did not play yesterday.
Australia captain Steve Waugh was delighted his bowlers managed to bowl the West Indies out twice on a flat pitch.
"It was about winning on that particular pitch," he said of his team's uncontained jubilation at the end. "It was one of the best Test match wins we've had, our players were dedicated and committed to the end."
"No side has won 4-0 in the Caribbean so there are lots of milestones to play for."
West Indies captain Brian Lara tried to put a brave face on yet another big defeat, pointing out that his team had an average age of around 25.
"We are batting well but we need to improve our bowling," he said. "I'm quite happy with the look of the team, I want us to play cricket the way we are playing."
West Indies began the day needing Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara to bat for as long as possible to give them any chance of avoiding defeat, but they lost both batsmen almost immediately.
Sarwan was leg before wicket to the first ball of the day - from MacGill, and shortly afterwards, Lara attempted to flick a full-length delivery from Andy Bichel, missed and was leg-before wicket.
Omari Banks and Shivnarine Chanderpaul then offered stubborn resistance as they added 61 runs for the sixth wicket before both went within four balls shortly after lunch before the habitual collapse of the West Indies tail.
