ST JOHN’S (Antigua), May 11: Australia opener Matthew Hayden was run out for 177 as West Indies hit back with five wickets either side of lunch in the fourth and final Test on Sunday.
Australia had threatened to build a huge second innings lead as Hayden and Justin Langer shared an opening partnership of 242 after both teams had made 240 in their first innings.
By tea on the third day, the tourists had reached 382 for seven with captain Steve Waugh on 26, while Jason Gillespie was on three.
However, West Indies will still have to score their highest ever fourth innings total against Australia to stop the visitors becoming the first side to achieve a clean-sweep in the Caribbean. Australia lead the series 3-0.
The highest fourth innings score West Indies have achieved against the tourists is 352 in Sydney in 1969. West Indies did score 311-9 to win the third Test in Bridgetown in 1999.
Hayden survived two chances before he reached his 14 Test century early on Sunday.
He was dropped by captain Brian Lara at first slip off Omari Banks on Saturday when he was on 47 and had another let off on 88 when Devon Smith’s attempted run out just missed the stumps.
Langer brought up his 15th century shortly after, but West Indies finally broke through when Langer, having made 111, edged Chris Gayle to Lara at first slip with the score on 242.
Wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist was sent in at number three but made only six before he was caught by Marlon Samuels off Banks after the ball ricocheted off Ridley Jacobs’s shoulder.
West Indies made another breakthrough when Banks and Samuels again combined to remove Martin Love for two on the last ball of the morning session.
Hayden continued his onslaught after lunch, hitting a huge six off Banks on to the roof of the Richie Richardson stand before he smashed the next delivery down the ground for four.
Mervyn Dillon then bowled Darren Lehmann, who got an inside edge on to his stumps for 14, before Hayden was run out after Waugh played a shot to backward point, and Carlton Baugh had a direct hit after Hayden had been sent back by Waugh.
On Saturday, West Indies prevented Australia taking a first innings lead for the first time in the series courtesy of a flamboyant knock from Lara, who hit 12 fours and a six.
But Langer and Hayden replied by hitting an unbeaten 80 and 79 respectively as Australia sped to 171 without loss in only 39 overs by the close to continue their quest for an unprecedented Caribbean whitewash.
Lara’s cavalier style was ultimately his downfall as he threw away his wicket by driving Andy Bichel’s delivery straight into the hands of Langer at mid-off, having hit the previous three balls for four.
Scoreboard
AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 240 (J.J.C. Lawson 7-78).
WEST INDIES (1st Innings):
C.H. Gayle b McGrath 0
D.S. Smith c Hayden b Lee 37
D. Ganga c Gilchrist b Bichel 6
V.C. Drakes lbw b Lee 21
B.C. Lara c Langer b Bichel 68
R.R. Sarwan c and b Bichel 24
S. Chanderpaul b McGrath 1
R.D. Jacobs run out 26
O.A.C. Banks not out 16
M. Dillon b Lee 9
J.J.C. Lawson c Love b MacGill 14
EXTRAS (LB-8, W-3, NB-7) 18
TOTAL (all out, 65.3 overs) 240
FALL OF WKTS: 1-1, 2-30, 3-73, 4-80, 5-137, 6-140, 7-185, 8-197, 9-224.