BRIDGETOWN, 6 May 2003 — Australia beat West Indies by nine wickets in the third Test yesterday to go 3-0 ahead in the four-match series and stay on course for an unprecedented Caribbean whitewash.

The series win sent Australia back to the top of world Test rankings, above South Africa, while West Indies lost three home Tests in a row for the first time.

Australia can complete the misery for Brian Lara’s young team by winning the final Test in Antigua starting on Friday.

Leg-spinner Stuart MacGill, following up on his 4-107 in the first innings, finished with 5-75 as West Indies, following on in their second innings and needing 277 to make Australia bat again, were all out for 284.

Australia, set eight to win, lost a wicket in the process as Jermaine Lawson completed a split hat trick.

Lawson, who took the last two wickets with successive balls in the Australian first innings, had Justin Langer lbw for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings.

Australia reached their target in 2.3 overs, Darren Lehmann making four and Matthew Hayden two with two extras. Number three Ricky Ponting had a viral infection and did not play yesterday.

West Indies began the day needing Ramnaresh Sarwan and Brian Lara to bat for as long as possible to give them any chance of avoiding defeat, but they lost both batsmen almost immediately.

Omari Banks and Shivnarine Chanderpaul then offered stubborn resistance as they added 61 runs for the sixth wicket before both falling within four balls of each other shortly after lunch before the habitual collapse of the West Indies tail.

West Indies, who made 328 in their first innings, resumed on 187 for three, 90 runs behind Australia’s first innings of 605 for nine declared, but with hope of forcing a draw if Sarwan and Lara could hold on.

Instead, Sarwan departed for 58 off the first ball of the day when he was hit on the toe by a full-pitched delivery from leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

Sarwan had struck nine fours in 135 balls.

The left-handed Lara was then dismissed for 42 when he attempted to flick a full-length Andy Bichel delivery through midwicket, missed and was rapped on the pad.

West Indies slumped to 195 for five with Lara’s dismissal, which was compounded with another pair of quick wickets after lunch to break the back of the West Indies batting.