Deflated West Indies, stunned by an amazing run-spree from Australia, succumbed to a 5-0 series whitewash after going under to the tourists by 169 runs in the final Digicel one-day international at Warner Park yesterday.

After Australia pummelled a hapless attack for 341 for eight in 50 overs, West Indies never mounted a challenge and were dismissed for 172 in 39.5 overs.

It was only the third time in history that West Indies suffered a clean sweep in an ODI series in the Caribbean.

Devastating half-centuries

Australia, batting first after winning the toss, owed their imposing total to devastating half-centuries from Luke Ronchi and David Hussey, along with more measured 50s by Andrew Symonds and Mike Hussey.

When West Indies batted, they were undermined mainly by left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, who removed captain Chris Gayle and vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan on the way to grabbing five for 29 off 7.5 overs.

The only resistance came from inexperienced Shawn Findlay with an unbeaten 59 and the consistent Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who made 38 before falling to a catch at long off.

Australia's victory was set up by the fireworks of Ronchi, whose 64 came off 28 balls to provide the impetus in the first half of the innings, and by David Hussey's 52 off 21 balls which gave the final flurry at the end.

Great partnership

Symonds followed up his 82 in the fourth match with 66 off 80 balls and Mike Hussey weighed in with 51 off 56 balls, as the pair featured in a fifth-wicket partnership of 113 in 130 balls.

Ronchi, sent at No.3, smashed six sixes and five fours to stun West Indies, but rookie left-arm spinner Nikita Miller sent down a tight spell to contain Australia's scoring over the second half of the innings before an assault at the end by David Hussey helped produce 106 from the last 10 overs.

Fast bowler Fidel Edwards, who was lifted over long on for two sixes by Ronchi in the 18th over, suffered the embarra**ment of conceding 86 runs from nine overs despite grabbing three wickets.

It was the most runs conceded by a West Indian in a one-day international - the previous highest being Corey Collymore going for 83 from 10 overs against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2004.

With Ronchi in full flight when he hoisted captain Chris Gayle for three sixes down the ground, Australia seemed headed for a massive total when they reached 150 for two in 21 overs.

Miller stemmed the flow by removing Ronchi with his first ball as the batsman was caught on the third attempt by wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin when he attempted to run the ball to third man.

The left-arm spinner proceeded to bowl tidily in 10 consecutive overs that cost 38 runs.

Before Ronchi entered, Australia were given an opening stand of 70 in 12.5 overs between Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson.

Watson made 29 before falling to a catch at third man off medium-pacer Dwayne Bravo, while the left-handed Marsh fell for 49 off 57 balls when he was caught by Ramdin off Edwards.

Gaining wickets

It was the first of four catches for Ramdin, who also caught captain Michael Clarke when he attempted to cut the first ball from Ramnaresh Sarwan, two runs after the dismissal of Ronchi.

West Indies were off to a bad start, losing Gayle to a catch at the wicket off Johnson in the second over and when Sarwan gave a catch to mid-off in the sixth over, West Indies were in further trouble.

Findlay, who faced 74 balls and struck five fours and a six, added 36 with Chanderpaul and 37 with Bravo, but West Indies were never in the hunt for the target.

Spinners Symonds and Clarke also shared four wickets to add to West Indies'