RICKY Ponting refused to blame Brett Lee for defeat after the fast bowler dropped a crucial catch and bowled poorly in the closing overs as Australia lost consecutive one-day matches for the first time in a year.
Lee dropped Wavell Hinds at long-on off spinner Brad Hogg when the West Indies opener was on 45, the ball spilling out of his hands and over the boundary for six. Hinds made the most of his reprieve, going on to spank an unbeaten 125 to guide the home side to a three-wicket win with eight balls to spare.
But the Australians still hold a unassailable 4-2 lead heading into tonight's finale, a match Ponting says Australia desperately wants to win before it heads into a month's break.
"It's been a very good tour for us, not just the one-day tour but the Test tour as well," he said.
"It would be disappointing end to the tour if we happen to lose the last three games before we went home," he said.
"You'd like to think we would be able to bounce back."
The Windies took 12 runs from Lee's penultimate over, with the quick conceding a pair of wides and a no-ball, and nine from four balls in his last over to claim victory.
Lee had been Australia's standout bowler in the World Cup and this one-day competition, taking 33 wickets at 18.30 through both events and conceding only 4.07 runs per over.
He finished game six with 3-50 from 9.4 overs, having earlier served up two scorching deliveries to dismiss Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels.
"Everyone drops catches," Ponting said. "It was a pretty vital one in the game, but that happens in cricket. You can't blame anything that Brett did today for the loss.
"That last over probably cost us a little bit, but I felt we were behind anyway."
After having their record of 21 straight wins broken in Trinidad, the world champions have now dropped consecutive games for the first time since losing games two and three of the best-of-three winter series at home to Pakistan last year. West Indies captain Brian Lara said he felt the Australians were tired after a 10-month campaign.
"You look at the Australians' itinerary -- they left playing the VB Series, straight into the World Cup," he said.
"It's taken a bit away from them."
Glenn McGrath had a bowl immediately after the match and looks ready to return tonight after missing Friday's loss with a sore groin.
Michael Bevan still remains doubtful.
-Jon Pierik