The match left the top-ranked Australians trailing 2-1 in the series. Worse, premier fast bowler Glenn McGrath sprained his left ankle and left for treatment after bowling only one over. His involvement in the remaining four matches was in doubt and he would not start Sunday's fourth match at Trinidad's Queen's Park Oval.

Chasing an Australian 50 overs total of 242 for eight wickets, the West Indies were always on course for their target. They finished 244 for five, winning on Brian Lara's boundary with an over to go.

The left-handed Adams, in the No 3 position because Lara was favouring a wrist injury aggravated while fielding, came in after the early loss of opener Stuart Williams to Damien Fleming, the medium-pacer who was Australia's best bowler with threefor 50 from his 10 overs.

He and Campbell revived the innings, exploiting McGrath's absence, which prompted Australia's captain Steve Waugh to use seven other bowlers on a favourable batting pitch and fast outfield.

Australia's eighth bowler, occasional left-arm spinner Darren Lehmann, broke the partnership by bowling Campbell for 64 (83b, 4x4). But Adams found another solid accomplice in the elegant Hooper. They carried the West Indies to within 49 of their goal when Fleming produced a perfect yorker to bowl Adams for 82 (102b, 8x4).

Fleming struck again when he bowled Hooper off the inside edge for 56, his highest score of the series. By then the outcome was little more than a formality.

Australia, batting first after Steve Waugh won the toss for the third successive match, would have been been disappointed with their final total after Mark Waugh (74) and Adam Gilchrist (43) gave them the ideal start with an opening partnership of 108.

Waugh hit a straight six from off-spinner Hooper and fivefours in his 74 before he was one of two run-out victims of sharp West Indian fielding. The left-handed Gilchrist made 43 before he hoisted a deep field catch to Curtly Ambrose from off-spinner Nehemiah Perry, West Indies' best bowler with three wickets for 45.

SCOREBOARD

Australia: M Waugh run out 74, Adam Gilchrist c Ambrose b Perry 43, Shane Lee lbw Perry 7, Damien Martyn run out 29, Darren Lehmann c Hooper b Simmons 40, Steve Waugh b Simmons 2, Michael Bevan not out 29, Tom Moody b Perry 2, Shane Warne not out 5. Extras: (lb3, w6, nb2) 11.

Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 242.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-108, 2-123, 3-128, 4-194, 5-201, 6-210, 7-215.

Bowling: Ambrose 10-2-40-0 (w3), Bryan 10-0-50-0 (w1, nb1), Hooper 9-0-47-0, Arthurton 2-0-14-0, Perry 10-0-45-3 (w1), Simmons 9-0-43-2 (w1, nb1).

West Indies: S Williams lbw Fleming 4, S Campbell b Lehmann 64, J Adams b Fleming 82, C Hooper b Fleming 56, B Lara not out 18, P Simmons run out 9, K Arthurton not out 1.Extras (lb1, w9): 10.

Total (for 5 wickets, 49 overs): 244.

Fall Of Wickets: 1-15, 2-124, 3-194, 4-225, 5-236.

Bowling: McGrath 1-0-1-0, Fleming 10-1-49-3 (2w), Moody 8-1-32-0 (1w), Martyn 3-0-16-0, Warne 9-0-59-0 (4w), Lee 7-0-39-0 (1w), M Waugh 7-0-30-0 (1w), Lehmann 4-0-17-1.

Man of the match: Jimmy Adams