Australia claim dramatic win

Andrew Symonds scored a quickfire 87 © Getty Images

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Australia snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a thrilling one-run triumph in the fourth one-day international against West Indies to remain on course for a series whitewash.

After being put into bat, the tourists were made to work hard to put 282 for eight on the board - all-rounder Andrew Symonds leading the way with 87 from just 78 balls.

Many of his team-mates failed to build on decent starts with the bat at Warner Park, but Symonds’ timely knock along with 50 from debutant David Hussey handed the Windies a testing total.

The hosts set about chasing their victory target of 283 in fine fashion and looked likely to clinch their first win of the series at 188 for two in the 34th over.

Captain Chris Gayle struck 92 and there were also half-centuries for Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

But it was not enough and Chanderpaul’s dismissal with the final ball of the penultimate over - with eight runs still required - proved costly as the Windies finished their 50 overs on 281 for six.

West Indies’ innings could hardly have got off to a worse start with opener Xavier Marshall trapped lbw by the second ball from Brett Lee.

But Sarwan then came in to join Gayle in the middle and the pair put on 137 for the second wicket before the former became Lee’s second victim when he was caught behind by Luke Ronchi for 63.

Gayle’s fine run-a-ball 92 ended when he went for one big hit too many and sliced Shane Watson to backward point where James Hopes took an assured catch.

Hopes accounted for the next wicket to fall - that of Dwayne Bravo, bowled between bat and pad after contributing 31 from 32 balls.

Shawn Findlay put on nine before being caught at midwicket by Michael Hussey off Lee in the 48th over and then, with the last ball of the 49th, Nathan Bracken snared the crucial wicket of Chanderpaul for 53.

Chris Gayle's 92 took West Indies close © Getty Images

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Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy needed to add eight in the final over to win the match but could only manage six as Australia clinched a dramatic triumph to go 4-0 up in the five-match series.

Earlier, man of the match Symonds shared a 127-run fifth-wicket partnership with David Hussey - standing in for injured skipper Ricky Ponting - to rescue the tourists from a tricky position at 129 for four.

Daren Powell pegged Australia back after a promising start by removing Watson - whose century inspired the tourists to victory in the third one-dayer - and fellow opener Shaun Marsh.

Watson made 24 off 22 balls before, having just been softened up by a bouncer, he was tempted into a drive by a Powell inswinger and flicked an inside edge through to wicketkeeper Ramdin.

And the same combination did for Marsh (16) as Australia slipped from 41 without loss to 56 for two.

Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke - captaining Australia in a one-dayer for the first time - put on 60 for third wicket before both fell in the 30s.

Michael Hussey (37) holed out to Bravo at deep midwicket off the bowling of Sammy before Clarke (36) went lbw to Nikita Miller after failing to connect with a sweep.

But Symonds and David Hussey piled on the runs later in the innings to get the tourists back on track.

Even a brief rain delay could not disrupt the rhythm of Symonds, who struck 10 fours and two sixes before becoming Fidel Edwards’ first victim.

The bowler then dismissed Hopes for a duck with the following ball, while David Hussey fell to Gayle as Australia lost three wickets for 10 runs.