Roseau (Dominica), Apr 27: Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit 69 and became the 10th batsman in cricket history to pass 10,000 test runs but West Indies struggled to 173-5 in pursuit of 370 to beat Australia in the third and final test on Thursday.
Captain Michael Clarke took 3-34 with his little-used left-arm spin to spearhead Australia's victory ambitions at Windsor Park.
The 37-year-old Chanderpaul, in his 140th match, was dismissed on the final ball of the day by Clarke, with the hosts still needing 197 on the fifth and last day for a series-levelling win.
Narsingh Deonarine was unbeaten on 11 at stumps.
Australia was earlier bowled out for 259 in its second innings after resuming on 200-6.
Offspinner Shane Shillingford finished with 4-100 to complete a match haul of 10-219.
Shillingford, from Dublanc on the north-west coast of Dominica, was the first West Indies spinner to achieve that feat since 1966 when Lance Gibbs claimed 10-106 against England at Manchester.
West Indies' run chase began badly either side of lunch as it slipped to 45-3 with Ben Hilfenhaus and Clarke leading the way.
Pacer Hilfenhaus grabbed opener Adrian Barath for a duck just before the interval. Barath clipped an on-drive to forward square leg where Ed Cowan held a fine, diving catch away to his right.
Clarke then removed Kraigg Brathwaite (14) and Kieran Powell (24) soon after the resumption.
Brathwaite, who broke a streak of three successive ducks, was lbw missing a pull, a marginal decision confirmed by the TV replays after the batsman sought a review.
Powell was bowled leg stump as he drove, the ball turning back through the gap between bat and pad. The left-hander hit four fours off 52 balls.
But Chanderpaul and Darren Bravo (45) lifted West Indies hopes with a partnership of 110 for the third wicket bridging tea.
Guyanese left-hander Chanderpaul, who made his debut in 1994, brought up his landmark 10,000th run when he reached 14, with an on-drive for a single off Clarke. Chanderpaul is the second West Indian to the milestone after Brian Lara, who ranks fifth on the list with 11,953.
Just when a crowd of close to 7,000 was beginning to sense a shift in the momentum, Bravo fell to the seam of Shane Watson.
The left-hander hit five fours in 148 balls in just short of three hours before he edged a forcing shot off the back foot and wicketkeeper Matthew Wade pouched a neat, low catch.
Chanderpaul seemed set to be unbeaten overnight but Clarke claimed him lbw on video review, umpire Tony Hill's original not out verdict reversed. The left-hander, who faced 122 balls and hit six fours in three hours, played across the line of one that turned back sharply.
Earlier, Australia's innings folded within an hour and a quarter of the morning session.
Shillingford, who took 6-119 in the first innings, grabbed the early wicket of Michael Hussey (32), the left-hander edging low to first slip.
Another offspinner, Narsingh Deonarine reduced Australia to 230-8 when Ryan Harris (9) top-edged a slog sweep and skied an easy catch to wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh.
Seven runs later, Shillingford earned his 10th wicket, Hilfenhaus (6) pouched at silly point by the diving Brathwaite.
But Mitchell Starc (21) and Nathan Lyon (12 not out) shared a last-wicket stand of 22 to boost Australia's advantage.
Starc struck two fours and a six off 43 balls before Kemar Roach returned to knock the top of his off stump with an indipper.
Fast bowler Roach ended the series with 19 wickets at an average of 19.73.
