ST JOHN’S, May 12: West Indies were staring at their first ever series whitewash in the Caribbean after Australia reduced them to 228 for four, chasing 418 for victory, at tea on the fourth day of the final Test on Monday.

West Indies captain Brian Lara’s dismissal, bowled by Stuart MacGill for 60, was the crucial point of the afternoon session after the home team went to lunch at 106 for three.

Vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan, who was on 67, was batting with Shivnarine Chanderpaul (34) at the tea interval.

On Sunday, the Australians lost nine wickets for 175 after a 242-run opening stand between Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

When failing light stopped play with five balls left on the third day, the West Indies had made a secure start and were 47 without loss.

The third day was highlighted by Hayden and Langer’s fifth double-century opening partnership, passing the four scored by great West Indian opening pair Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes.

It was the left-handed pair’s highest opening partnership in 36 innings batting together, surpassing their previous best of 224 against New Zealand in Brisbane in November 2001.

But wickets tumbled regularly once Langer was out as the West Indian bowlers toiled away without their first-innings destroyer Jermaine Lawson, who was off the field all day with a back strain and leaving the majority of the work to Mervyn Dillon and spinner Omari Banks.

Dillon claimed 4-112 off 29 overs.