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Fast bowler Jermaine Lawson captured Australia’s first three wickets as West Indies, facing an unprecedented home series whitewash, too...

Fast bowler Jermaine Lawson captured Australia’s first three wickets as West Indies, facing an unprecedented home series whitewash, took the initiative in the fourth and final Test on Friday.

Australia recovered to reach 175 for four at tea on the first day after Lawson, who took a split hat-trick in the third Test, dismissed openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer before lunch and Darren Lehmann shortly after the interval.

Off-spinner Omari Banks then bowled Martin Love, who replaced the flu-stricken Ricky Ponting, for 36 as the home side seized the advantage to reduce the visitors to 124 for four midway through the afternoon session.

SCOREBOARD (TEA)

Australia (1st Innings): Langer c Banks b Lawson 42; Hayden c Drakes b Lawson 14; Love b Banks 36; Lehmann c Jacobs b Lawson 7; S Waugh batting 41; Gilchrist batting 28. Extras (lb 2, w 2, nb 3): 7.
Total (for 4 wkts): 175.
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-80, 3-93, 4-128.
Bowling: Dillon 12-0-41-0, Lawson 16-2-63-3, Drakes 15-2-42-0, Banks 10-0-27-1.

But, captain Steve Waugh and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist then combined to take the attack to the West Indian bowlers and carried them through to tea without further loss. Waugh was 41 not out off 74 balls while Gilchrist was on 28.

Some fielding errors, which have already cost West Indies in the series, saved Australia from even worse trouble.

Australia, who batted first in the previous two Tests and compiled match-winning scores each time, made a quick start as Langer hit two fours in Mervyn Dillon’s second over.

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But West Indies, 0-3 down in the series, made an important breakthrough when Hayden miscued an attempted pull at Lawson and Vasbert Drakes took an easy catch at mid-on to reduce Australia to 27 for one.

West Indies should have dismissed Langer for 14 three overs later but second slip Chris Gayle dropped an easy chance off Dillon. Langer went on to make 42 before he deflected a Lawson delivery to gully where Banks took a low catch.

Lehmann followed after lunch when he edged Lawson to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs — returning to action after missing the last two Tests through injury — for seven.