West Indies, attempting to score the highest ever fourth innings winning total to avoid a 4-0 series whitewash, were 371 for six at the end of the fourth day of the fourth Test against Australia on Monday.
The home side, which has never been whitewashed in the Caribbean, need just 47 more runs on the fifth day after centuries from Ramnaresh Sarwan (105) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (103 not out) put them in a handy position to achieve the 418 needed for victory.
West Indies captain Brian Lara also chipped in with a belligerent 60, while Omari Banks contributed 28 not out in an unbeaten 83-run seventh-wicket partnership with Chanderpaul.
Brett Lee had put Australia back on top by dismissing Sarwan and Ridley Jacobs with successive balls, the second a controversial dismissal that sparked bottle-throwing from the crowd, to leave West Indies 288 for six.
But Chanderpaul and Banks then combined for their potentially match-winning partnership to leave the Test on a knife-edge heading into the final day.
India had made 406 for four to beat West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976.
Lara had earlier revived the West Indies innings after they slumped to 75 for three in the morning session.
The West Indies captain had been initially circumspect but after the lunch break he hit three fours and three massive sixes before leg spinner Stuart MacGill deceived him in the flight and he was bowled.
Sarwan and Chanderpaul then combined for a 123-run fifth wicket partnership in which the pair dispatched the Australian attack to all corners of the ground with a flurry of boundaries and gave West Indies renewed hope of winning the Test.
Their partnership also included several fiery incidents, notably when Glenn McGrath and Sarwan were involved in a heated finger-pointing exchange.
McGrath was later moved in from the boundary following abuse from West Indies supporters before Sarwan completed his second Test century, and first in the Caribbean, off 137 balls with 16 fours.
But Sarwan then gave his wicket away shortly after when he miscued an attempted pull and offered a simple caught and bowled to Lee.
Lee then greeted Jacobs with a bouncer, which struck the batsman and looped high into the gloves of Adam Gilchrist to leave West Indies 288 for six.
Television replays suggested Jacobs had been hit on the forearm and angry fans hurled plastic bottles onto the outfield, halting the game for five minutes.
Chanderpaul and Banks, helped by a brief rain interruption, then steadied the home team after Banks escaped when Martin Love dropped an easy catch at first slip off Lee while on two.
Chanderpaul hit successive boundaries off MacGill then completed his century in the next over with a quick single. He received 140 balls and hit 17 fours and a six.
At one stage, West Indies had looked unlikely to last the day when they lost three wickets in the first session.
Australia wore black armbands in memory of former Test cricketer Ernie Toshack, who died aged 88.
Toshack was a member of Don Bradman's 1948 'Invincibles' side, which toured England, winning the Test series 4-0 in what is still regarded as one of Australia's greatest performances in any sport.
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