The tourists took a 3-2 lead in the seven-match series with the final match at the same venue today.

Warne took three for 28 off ten overs as the West Indies wasted an excellent start to subside to 249 for five from 50 yesterday overs. Yesterday. Gilchrist's robust innings set up Australia's successful chase, the tourists reaching 253 for six wickets with nine balls to spare.

Vice-captain Warne squashed the West Indies momentum by taking the wickets of openers Ridley Jacobs and Sherwin Campbell, after the pair began with a flurry.

The West Indies won the toss for the first time in the series, and Jacobs and Campbell added 81 for thefirst wicket from just 11 overs. But the introduction of Warne changed the complexion of the match.

Campbell scored 24 off 27 balls with three fours, while Jacobs was more aggressive, striking 11 boundaries and two sixes in his career-best 68 off 56 balls.

Off-spinner Mark Waugh too teamed up with Warne in the middle of the innings to restrict the West Indies scoring. Captain Jimmy Adams and fellow left-hander Shivnarine Chanderpaul added 61 for the fourth wicket but they could never gain the momentum of Jacobs and Campbell.

Adams, captaining the side for the second time in place of the injured Brian Lara, took 70 balls over his 46. Chanderpaul, still struggling with his form after returning from a layoff due to a shoulder injury, made an unconvincing 44 off 71 balls.

Mark Waugh supported Warne well with one for 35 from ten overs, claiming Chanderpaul to a miscued pull.

Australia's reply started in similar fashion to the West Indies, with Waugh and Gilchrist posting 70 runs off 11 overs before beingseparated.

Waugh chipped a catch to mid-on off Mervyn Dillon after scoring 25 off 28 balls with four fours.

Gilchrist went on to 64 off 55 balls with nine boundaries and two sixes before he edged a cut at Hendy Bryan to the wicket-keeper.

The top order kept the Australians on a victory course with Brendon Julian, promoted to No 3, hitting 31 off 33 balls and Ricky Ponting providing 43 off 82 balls.

But when they slipped to 206 for six in the 43rd over, the West Indies scented a rally.

Michael Bevan assured there would be none and the left-hander, universally known as the best `finisher' in the game, remained unbeaten to the end, with 35 off 50 balls with five fours.

Scoreboard
West Indies: Sherwin Campbell c Gilchrist b Warne 24, Ridley Jacobs c Julian b Warne 68, Jimmy Adams c Gilchrist b Moody 46, Carl Hooper run out 8, Shivnarine Chanderpaul c Ponting b M Waugh 44, Stuart Williams st Gilchrist b Warne 9, Keith Arthurton c Ponting b Fleming 16, Hendy Bryan c&b Fleming 6,Nehemiah Perry not out 7, Mervyn Dillon not out 1; Extras (lb6, w13, nb1): 20. Total (for eight wkts, 50 overs): 249

Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-107, 3-122, 4-183, 5-208, 6-214, 7-238, 8-241.

Bowling: Fleming 9-0-53-2, Moody 8-0-49-1, Warne 10-1-28-3, Lee 3-0-27-0, M Waugh 10-1-35-1, Julian 7-0-32-0, Lehmann 3-0-19-0.

Australia: Adam Gilchrist c Jacobs b Bryan 64, Mark Waugh c Adams b Dillon 25, Brendon Julian c Adams b King 31, Ricky Ponting run out 43, Darren Lehmann c Adams b King 2, Steve Waugh c Jacobs b Perry 5, Michael Bevan not out 35, Shane Lee not out 19; Extras (lb10, w13, nb6): 29. Total (six wickets 48.3 overs): 253

Fall of wickets: 1-71, 2-111, 3-154, 4-163, 5-171, 6-206Did not bat: Tim Moody, Shane Warne, Damien Fleming

Bowling: Dillon 9.3-0-54-1 (w1), King 10-0-50-2 (nb2, w3), Bryan 9-0-58-1 (w8), Hooper 8-0-37-0 (nb2), Arthurton 2-0-15-0, Perry 10-0-29-1 (nb2, w1).

Result: Australia won by four wickets.