Steve Waugh's unbeaten 82 as well as 96 from Michael Slater put Australia in charge of the fifth Test in Sydney as they looked to complete a 5-0 series whitewash over West Indies.

The Australians, pursuing a record 15th successive Test victory, had the tourists on the ropes again at the end of the second day's play after putting on 284 for four in reply to West Indies' 272 all out.

The only major disappointment of the day for the hosts came when Slater checked out in the nervous 90s for the ninth time in his 67 Tests.

However, captain Waugh was closing on another century at stumps with Ricky Ponting not out on 51. Their unbroken fifth-wicket stand had added 127 in 147 minutes.

Waugh, playing in his 132nd Test, survived a confident lbw appeal off Courtney Walsh when on seven and went on to make them pay dearly, slogging Mahendra Nagamootoo for six on to the hill at the SCG. But while Waugh has visions of his 24th career Test hundred, Slater was out in the 90s yet again. He scorched to 96 off 142 balls only to perish going after leg-spinner Nagamootoo and Marlon Samuels taking the catch at point.

In Cape Town, Daryll Cullinan hit his fourth century in successive Tests at Newlands and put South African in a commanding position on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka, Mark Boucher joined in a run feast, making 92 in a total of 426 for six - a first innings lead of 331. Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 95 in the first three hours of the match on Tuesday.