Fourth Test, Antigua, day one: Australia 1st innings 240; West Indies 47-2 (at close)

Lawson was applauded off the field by his team-mates Photos from Antigua

Fast bowler Jermaine Lawson took Test-best figures of 7-78 as West Indies enjoyed their best start of the series.

The West Indies were 47-2 in reply at the close of play after Glenn McGrath dismissed Chris Gayle with the second ball of the innings.

Daren Ganga also lost his wicket when he was caught behind by Adam Gilchrist off Andy Bichel for six.

Devon Smith was left on 21 and night watchman Vasbert Drakes 12 not out at the close.

Earlier the 23-year-old Lawson, who took a split hat-trick in the third Test, had put in a hostile spell of bowling to help limit Australia to their lowest total of the series.

He removed opening pair Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer before lunch.

Hen then dismissed Darren Lehmann after the break to leave Australia on 128-4 before skipper Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist put on an unbroken 47 runs for the fifth wicket.

Waugh, who scored his 30th Test century at the last Test in Bridgetown, was dropped in a straightforward chance on 17 by Shivnarine Chanderpaul at leg slip.

Australia hit back as Chris Gayle was out second ball

Mervyn Dillon, returning after being dropped for the third Test, removed the captain and big-hitting wicketkeeper Gilchrist.

He finished with figures of 2-53, while Lawson returned to mop up the last four wickets.

Spinner Omari Banks took the other wicket to fall.

Langer was dropped by Gayle at first slip off Mervyn Dillon when on 14 before going on to top score with 42 runs.

Australia are 3-0 up in the four-match series and attempting to hand West Indies their first whitewash at home.

They started the game without vice-captain Ricky Ponting, who was ruled out with a flu-like viral infection.

Martin Love replaced Ponting and batted patiently in his third Test, making 36 off 93 balls before playing on to his stumps to hand Banks. his only wicket

West Indies: C H Gayle, D S Smith, D Ganga, R R Sarwan B C Lara (Capt), S Chanderpaul, O A C Banks, R D Jacobs (Wkt) V C Drakes, M Dillon, J J C Lawson.

Australia: J L Langer, M L Hayden, D S Lehmann, S R Waugh (Capt) M L Love, A C Gilchrist (Wkt), A J Bichel, B Lee, J N Gillespie S C G MacGill, G D McGrath.

Umpires: David Shepherd (Eng), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (Ind)