West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul (left), looks at his stumps after being bowled by Australia's Nathan Bracken (out of picture) for 53 runs as wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi celebrates during the fourth One Day International cricket match in Basseterre, St Kitts, Friday, yesterday. (Photo: AP)

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) - West Indies choked under the pressure of a tight run-chase to hand Australia a one-run victory in the fourth Digicel One-Day International at Warner Park yesterday.

Set 283 to win from 50 overs, West Indies were on course at 247 for three in the 43rd over, before losing their way and were restricted to 281 for six.

The hosts lost in spite of a blazing 92 from 92 balls by captain Chris Gayle, along with half-centuries from fellow key batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
The win gave Australia a 4-0 lead in the series which they will try to finish off with a clean sweep in the final match on Sunday.

After Gayle, who smashed 10 fours and four sixes, put on 137 in 24.1 overs with Sarwan, who contributed a fluent 63 off 79 balls, West Indies kept on pace with successive half-century partnerships that involved Chanderpaul, who made 53 off 71 balls.

Australia's Shane Watson (second right), is embraced by teammates Brett Lee (right), Shaun Marsh (left) and captain Michael Clarke, after he bowled the final over limiting the West Indies to six singles in pursuit of eight runs at the end of the fourth One Day International cricket match in Basseterre, St Kitts, yesterday. (Photo: AP)

Gayle and Chanderpaul added an even 50 before the captain fell to a catch at cover. It brought in Dwayne Bravo, who batted with assurance in making 31 off 32 balls in a fourth-wicket partnership of 59 with Chanderpaul.

As the match became tight, Australia kept their nerve and the wickets of debutant Shawn Findlay, who fell to a spectacular diving catch by Mike Hussey at mid-wicket and Chanderpaul, bowled from the last ball of the 49th over, set the stage for an exciting finish.

West Indies needed eight runs from the final over that was delivered by medium fast bowler Shane Watson, but were restricted to six singles from the bats of Denesh Ramdin and Darren Sammy.

Australia's competitive total was built around Andrew Symonds' brilliant 87 off 78 balls that earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

It's over! Australia's Shane Watson (left) celebrates as West Indies batsman Darren Sammy looks on after delivering the last ball of the final over, limiting the West Indies to six singles in pursuit of eight runs at the end of the fourth One Day International cricket match in Basseterre, St Kitts, yesterday. The West Indies, trying to avoid a series sweep, lost by one run and Australia now lead the five-match series 4-0. (Photo: AP)

After Australia were kept in check when they were sent in, Symonds increased the tempo to hit 10 fours and two sixes and there was a significant acceleration in the second half of the innings from a position of 121 for three in 25 overs.

Debutant David Hussey assisted Symonds by making a run-a-ball 50 as the pair featured in a fifth-wicket century partnership after Australia were initially pegged back by fast bowler Daren Powell and left-arm spinner Nikita Miller.

Powell removed Watson and Shaun Marsh to catches by wicket-keeper Ramdin after the openers added 41 in 7.5 overs, while debutant Miller bowled economically for his first seven overs in which he conceded 23 runs.

Symonds started cautiously before lifting Miller for a straight six and also greeted Powell with a six over long-on at the start of his last over which included a second six by David Hussey.

Miller was lashed for 33 runs from his last three overs, while Powell, who finished with two for 53 in 10 overs, gave up 32 from his last two overs.

After Symonds and David Hussey added 127 in 18.2 overs, pacer Fidel Edwards checked Australia's advance by capturing two wickets in successive balls in the 47th over.

Symonds gave a catch to mid-off, while James Hopes was caught by Sarwan running back from mid-wicket.

West Indies managed two more wickets, including that of David Hussey, who was caught at deep mid-wicket by substitute Kemar Roach off Gayle after hitting two sixes and a four.

Edwards finished with two for 53 from 10 overs.

Scoreboard

Match Referee: Roshan Mahanama.

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