BRIDGETOWN, April 12: Shane Watson hit 52 and Michael Hussey supplied a crucial 32 off 26 balls as Australia earned a thrilling three-wicket victory over the West Indies in fading light on Wednesday on the fifth and final day of the first Test at Kensington Oval.

Australia were set 192 to win in the final two sessions and got a solid start, but late wickets produced some nervous moments before a scampered single took them to 192-7 and earned a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Watson struck four fours and a six off 57 balls while Hussey hit two fours and two sixes. Ed Cowan laid the anchor with 34 off 100 deliveries.

Off-spinner Narsingh Deonarine gave the West Indies hope with 4-53 while fast bowler Kemar Roach took 2-45.

Earlier, the West Indies were bowled out for 148 on the stroke of lunch after resuming on 71-5. Roach provided the main resistance with a stubborn 25.

Ben Hilfenhaus, who had started the West Indies’ slide on day four, ended with 4-27 while fellow pacer Ryan Harris took 3-31.

Australia’s target was 192 off 63 overs but once heavy rain delayed the restart after lunch, it was always going to be a fight against time and light, rather than overs.

The visitors enjoyed some luck as they attempted to complete a come-from-behind victory. David Warner had two inside edged boundaries just past the stumps off the luckless Roach as he and Ed Cowan added 31 for the first wicket.

Darren Sammy eventually removed Warner to a wicket-keeper’s catch, his thin edge neatly pouched by Carlton Baugh. Roach had two very close lbw appeals against Watson turned down, both by umpire Tony Hill and the Decision Review System, but the West Indies bowlers limited Australia to 61-1 at tea.

Watson also survived a sharp gully catch to Sammy off Roach on five.

After the break, Australia showed increased urgency, with Watson dominating a second wicket stand of 75 with Cowan. Deonarine brought the hosts back into it with four top-order wickets in quick time.

Watson top-edged to deep square leg at 106-2 and Cowan, Ponting and captain Michael Clarke soon followed. Cowan pulled a catch to midwicket, Ponting (14) was bowled off the under-edge by one that kept low and Clarke (6) chipped a return catch.

At 140-5, the match was in the balance even as the sun started to dip in the west.

But Hussey provided much needed momentum with a busy innings, including two early reverse sweeps for boundaries. He and fellow left-hander Matthew Wade (18) settled Australian nerves with a stand of 37 for the sixth wicket that brought their team within 15 of victory.

But there was late drama as Roach returned to claim Wade, who slashed to deep point, and Hussey, whose stumps were rattled.

But Harris and Hilfenhaus, two architects of the turnaround on Tuesday, took Australia to victory.

The winning run was as dramatic as the previous four days, the umpires needing a TV replay to confirm that Hilfenhaus had managed to scamper home before a run out was effected.—AP

Scoreboard

WEST INDIES (1st Innings) 449-9 declared (S. Chanderpaul 103 not out, K.A. Edwards 61; K.C. Brathwaite 57, D.M. Bravo 51, D.J.G, Sammy 41).

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 406-9 declared (M.J. Clarke 73, R.J. Harris 68 not out, M.E.K. Hussey 48, D.A. Warner 42, N.M, Lyon 40 not out; K.A.J. Roach 3-72), WEST INDIES (2nd Innings) 148 (D.M. Bravo 32; B.W. Hilfenhaus 4-27, R.J. Harris 3-31).

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings): D.A. Warner c Baugh b Sammy    22 E.J.M. Cowan c Chanderpaul b Deonarine    34 S.R. Watson c sub b Deonarine    52 R.T. Ponting b Deonarine    14 M.J. Clarke c and b Deonarine    6 M.E.K. Hussey b Roach    32 M.S. Wade c Bishoo b Roach    18 R.J. Harris not out    4 B.W. Hilfenhaus not out    2

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, W-2, NB-2)    8 TOTAL (for seven wkts, 47 overs)    192 FALL OF WKTS: 1-31, 2-106, 3-126, 4-131, 5-140, 6-184, 7-189. BOWLING: Roach 12-0-45-2 (1nb); F.H. Edwards 6-0-19-0 (1nb); Sammy 10-2-27-1 (1w); Bishoo 8-0-44-0; Deonarine 11-1-53-4.

RESULT: Australia won by three wickets. UMPIRES: I.J. Gould (England) and A.L. Hill (New Zealand). TV UMPIRE: M. Erasmus (South Africa). MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand). MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ryan Harris. SECOND TEST: Port of Spain, April 15-19. THIRD TEST: Roseau (Dominica), April 23-27.