Date-stamped : 13 Jan97 - 18:18 Report- Electronic Telegraph Australians are eliminated by Lara's rapid 90 By a Special Correspondent in Perth THE West Indies pulled off a nerve-tingling four-wicket win over Australia at Perth yesterday to eliminate them from the World Series finals, the first time they have been absent from their own tournament since 1979-80. With the West Indies set to make 268 to win at the WACA ground, Brian Lara smashed a majestic 90 in 110 balls to see them home with four balls to spare. Australia built their score around 92 from in-form batsman Mark Waugh, though he could miss the fourth Test after pulling a hamstring during his innings. Just when Australia looked to have the advantage, Lara and Robert Samuels shared a rollicking 86-run stand for the sixth wicket off only 51 balls. Lara, who inspired the West Indies' five-wicket win over Pakistan on Friday with an undefeated 103, was unlucky to miss his third century in a row. He was caught on the long-on fence off the last ball of the penultimate over bowled by Shane Warne. With 66 needed in the last seven overs, Lara cut loose, taking 14 and 11 runs off Warne's next two overs, including two towering sixes off successive balls. Lara's last 40 runs came off only 24 balls. Australia paid dearly for dropping Lara on 22 - Glenn McGrath putting down a relatively easy catch at extra-cover off the left-arm spinner Michael Bevan. The group formalities have still to be concluded against Pakistan - the West Indies in Sydney tomorrow and Australia in Melbourne on Thursday. The first match in the best-of-three final between Pakistan and the West Indies is next Saturday in Sydney. Australia lead the five-Test series 2-1, but have lost their last five one-day matches as well as the third Test. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (managment@cricinfo.com