Opener Shane Watson [ Images ] top-scored with 76 as Australia [ Images ] continued to dominate West Indies [ Images ] during a convincing five-wicket victory in the fourth One-Day International at the Sydney [ Images ] Cricket Ground on Friday.
Kieron Pollard earlier hit a defiant unbeaten century to haul West Indies almost single-handedly to 220 all out but it never looked like being enough and the hosts took a 4-0 lead in the five-match series with 31 balls to spare.
Watson scored a century on his return from injury as Australia wrapped up the series on Wednesday but his innings was not as assured on Friday and he had a couple of lives before departing, caught behind off the bowling of Tino Best.
Paceman Best returned later to dismiss Australia skipper Michael Clarke [ Images ] (37) in similar circumstances with the scores level, which left Glenn Maxwell to push the winning run through the covers.
Left-arm paceman Mitchell Johnson [ Images ] (3-36) ripped through the West Indies' top order on a bright, sunny day at the SCG and for a while it looked like Australia might crush the visitors.
One-day specialist Pollard, though, fought a one-man rearguard action with a brilliant but controlled innings of 109 not out to ensure there would be no repeat of the dismal 70-run effort with which West Indies opened the series in Perth.
Sunil Narine (23) offered some support in a 64-run partnership for the ninth wicket before Pollard recorded his third one-day century, reaching 99 with his second six and taking a single off the next ball.
Pollard's first six after he had hit 11 fours flew into the stands at long-on, hitting an inattentive security guard full on the head. He was left without a partner when Best was run out with two balls remaining in the 50 overs.
Australia will try to secure a series sweep in the final match at the Melbourne [ Images ] Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Photograph: Matt King/Getty Images
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