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What an innings!

To beat the all-conquering Australian team takes individual brilliance or world-record breaking performance. The West Indies showed both in May when, in the final Test of the four-match series, they made the highest-ever fourth innings winning total to beat Australia by three wickets.

After both sides scored 240 in their first innings, Australia made 417 in their second essay to set the hosts 418 to win the dead rubber. The West Indies reached the historic target with an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership of 46 from lower order batsmen Omari Banks and Vasbert Drakes.

The triumph surpassed the previous record -- India's 406 for four to beat West Indies at 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 the 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).

Windies score historic win
West Indies vs Australia

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