GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC)

Big-hitting batsman Kieron Pollard smashed a high-octane century as West Indies beat Australia by 42 runs in the fourth one-day international to take a crucial 2-1 lead in the five-match series yesterday.

The 24-year-old right-hander slammed 102 from a mere 70 balls, a feisty knock that propelled the Windies to a competitive 294 for seven off 50 overs, after they were sent in at Beausejour Cricket Ground.

Batting at number six, Pollard smashed five fours and eight typically massive sixes, in an extraordinary display which saw West Indies plunder 117 runs from the last 10 overs of the innings.

Their bowlers, led by the excellent off-spinner Sunil Narine, then restricted Australia to 252 all out off 46.3 overs.

Narine took just one wicket but his 10 overs cost only 24 runs and again kept the brakes on the Aussie scoring.

Meanwhile, seamers Andre Russell (2-34), captain Darren Sammy (2-42), Dwayne Bravo (2-47) and Kemar Roach (2-74) all claimed two wickets to make inroads at key junctures.

The experienced David Hussey stroked 57 from 54 balls and Brett Lee threatened late on with an imperious 59 from 48 balls but West Indies held their nerve well to put themselves in a strong position to take their first series win over the Aussies in a whopping 17 years.

Pollard's innings, his second ODI century, headlined an outstanding effort from West Indies, with opener Adrian Barath stroking a shot-filled 41 and partner Johnson Charles getting 37.

Russell banged 34 from 32 balls while Sammy's cameo 13-ball 31 not out ensured an explosive end to the innings.

Australia had little answer to the Windies onslaught with medium pacer Shane Watson (2-55), left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty (2-64) and speedster Brett Lee (2-72) struggling to contain the flow of runs.

Barath and Charles put on 56 for the first wicket to give the Windies an enterprising start.

The right-handed Barath, in his first match of the series, hammered nine fours off just 31 balls while Charles was unusually subdued, striking three fours and a six off 62 balls.

Seamer Clint McKay claimed Barath to a catch at the wicket in the 11th over and Marlon Samuels spent 41 balls over 11 before edging Lee behind at 83 for two in the 21st over.

Charles and Darren Bravo (25) had added 23 for the third wicket when disaster struck, as the Windies lost two wickets to successive deliveries in the 26th over.

Darren Bravo then added 40 with Pollard for the fifth wicket before driving Watson to David Hussey in the deep.

However, Pollard and Russell picked up the slack, combined in a 94-run, sixth-wicket stand that reignited the Windies' innings.