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Record-breaking West Indies made the highest-ever fourth innings winning total to beat Australia by three wickets in the fourth and final Test and avoid an unprecedented home whitewash.

West Indies, set 418 to win and 3-0 down in the series, reached the historic target with an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 46 from lower order batsmen Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes.

Drakes's winning hit set off wild celebrations when he cut a four down to backward point off costly leg-spinner Stuart MacGill.

The triumph surpassed the previous record -- India's 406 for four to beat West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976 -- and handed captain Brian Lara his first success in his second stint as captain.

Drakes made 27 and 20-year-old Banks, in only his second Test, a battling 47.

Against the best bowling attack in world cricket, it was a remarkable performance by West Indies, who early on the fourth day had slumped to 74 for three before they were boosted by centuries from Guyanese pair Ramnaresh Sarwan (105) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (104).

West Indies resumed on Tuesday on 371 for six, needing 47 to win, but suffered a quick blow when they lost Chanderpaul, their last recognised batsman.

In a tense atmosphere, Brett Lee made the early breakthrough in the fourth over of the morning.

Bowling around the wicket, Lee delivered a ball around two feet wide of the off-stump which found the edge of Chanderpaul's bat and Adam Gilchrist took a low catch to his left to remove the Guyanese left-hander.

But Drakes and Banks, playing with great maturity, steered the West Indies home in a dramatic session which included several loud appeals and a massive six by Drakes off MacGill, who ended the innings with just one wicket for 149 off 35.5 overs.