PERTH, Australia (CMC) — West Indies captain Chris Gayle has praised his side’s effort in defeat even as he expressed sadness over losing 0-2 in the three-match Test series against Australia yesterday.

The Australians smothered a threatening bid by West Indies to record an upset win and triumphed by 35 runs on the fifth day of the third and final Test against Australia.

“I’m really happy for the guys and the way they played but very disappointed as well,” Gayle said moments after the Australians earned a hard fought victory with a contentious last-wicket decision at the WACA.

“Congrats to Ricky and his team, you guys played better cricket,” Gayle said in the post-match ceremony.

Australia had taken the lead in the series after crushing West Indies — in spite of hundred by debutant Adrian Barath — by an innings and 65 runs in the opening Test in Brisbane and retained the Frank Worrell Trophy following the drawn second Test in Adelaide where West Indies held the upper hand.

Young players Barath, 19, and pacer Kemar Roach, 21, emerged from the series as new, promising talent from West Indies and Gayle, who was the third Test man of the match for his terrific first innings hundred (102) here, applauded their contribution to the team.

“I want to commend Adrian Barath on his first hundred, Kemar Roach did really well as well, Kemar was brilliant,” said Gayle, who also copped the man of the series award.

The big Jamaican also pointed to other positives in the series.

“Ravi Rampaul and Gavin Tonge made their debut, and Narsingh Deonarine came into this first Test match on tour and stepped up. These are some positives, but we were up against a good team and at the end of the day they played better cricket,” he said.

Gayle stroked a masterful 165, carrying his bat in the Adelaide Test and expressed joy over his personal accomplishment.

“I’m happy to actually get two centuries. It’s a personal milestone and I always wanted a century against Australia. I’m really happy for that,” he said.

Tail-enders Tonge and Roach kept the touring side’s slim hopes of an upset win alive when — chasing a target of 359 — they added 15 runs to the Windies’ overnight 308 for nine but left-arm seamer Doug Bollinger snatched the vital last wicket when he had Roach caught at the wicket for 17.

Tonge and Roach bravely smashed boundaries but immediately after Roach slashed Bollinger to the point boundary off the second ball of the day’s fourth over, he was given out caught behind off the very next delivery.

The batsman challenged the decision and though the TV replays in the referral period suggested there was no edge, umpire Billy Bowden’s original verdict was upheld.

After their massive win against a weak West Indies in the Brisbane first Test, Australia seemed poised for a lopsided series victory, but West Indies rebounded well and the home captain Ricky Ponting acknowledged the Caribbean side’s role in the competitive series.

“We’ve played in two very even Test matches,” said Ponting.

“I think the fans around Australia have seen some very good cricket in the last couple of weeks,” added Ponting, who is nursing an injury to his arm after being struck by a rising delivery from his series nemesis Roach.

Ponting said the injury is improving and he hopes to be fit for their Boxing Day Test match against Pakistan.