The Hindu : Lara dazzles in drawn Test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 26, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Lara dazzles in drawn Test

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, JUNE 25. West Indies captain Brian Lara lit up Beausejour Stadium with a brilliant 209 against Sri Lanka as the rain-plagued first cricket Test ended in a draw on Tuesday.

The West Indies, resuming on 272 for four, declared at 477 for nine at tea, with a first-innings lead of 123.

In reply, Sri Lanka scored 126 without loss when the match ended with six overs to spare. Marvan Atapattu added to his 118 in the first innings with an unbeaten 50, and Sanath Jayasuriya was not out on 72, his 25th Test half century.

Jayasuriya, in his 79th Test, became the third Sri Lankan to pass 5,000 Test runs when he reached 62, joining former captains Aravinda de Silva (6,361) and Arjuna Ranatunga (5,105).

The second match in the two-Test series starts on Friday in Kingston, Jamaica.

Lara, 93 when the rains came on the third day, stretched his 21st Test century to his fifth score of more than 200, before he swished at fast bowler Prabath Nissanka and edged a catch to wicketkeeper Romesh Kaluwitharana.

Lara's double century lasted 360 balls and 7-1/2 hours. His 24th boundary took him past 200. The next ball from off-spinner Thilan Samaraweera, Lara smoked over long on for six.

Only Sir Donald Bradman (12), Walter Hammond (7), Javed Miandad (6) and Sri Lanka opener Marvan Atapattu (5) have made as many scores over 200.

Muttiah Muralitharan claimed five for 138 off 50 overs for the visitor. Omari Banks confirmed his status as an allrounder of promise with an unruffled, unbeaten 50 off 137 balls with five fours and a six.

Lara's duel with Muralitharan was the highlight of the final day, and the off-spinner had the early measure of Lara.

Lara had added just one when he was mis-stumped by Kaluwitharana as he overbalanced trying to on-drive an off-break.

Lara's ninth boundary, a cracking back-foot stroke through cover, pushed him past 100 in 222 balls and 293 minutes. It was his fifth century in just seven Tests against the Sri Lankans.

Ridley Jacobs lashed two fours in 13 off 24 balls to add 26 with his skipper, before Muralitharan claimed his fourth wicket. Jacobs was leg before playing across the line of a straighter delivery.

Lara and Omari Banks added 136 for the seventh wicket, a record for West Indies against Sri Lanka. Banks' contribution was just 26.

Lara played Muralitharan with growing certainty as the day progressed and took his toll on the lesser lights in the attack.

He plundered three fours in 16 runs off one Kaushal Lokuarachchi over of leg-spin as he raced past 150, with 15 fours off 296 balls in 375 minutes.

Lara has converted 11 of his centuries past 150.

Later, he added three more boundaries in an over off Nissanka, and two consecutive off Samaraweera.

Muralitharan claimed his 38th five-wicket haul near the end with the wicket of Corey Collymore for a duck.

Edwards gets a call

West Indies has called uncapped Barbadian pace bowler Fidel Edwards into its squad for the second Test match. The 21-year old replaces reserve wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh in the 14-man squad.

Edwards caught the eye of the Test selectors after being named as the most improved bowler at the Caribbean's cricket academy.

The squad: Brian Lara (captain), Ramnaresh Sarwan, Omari Banks, Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore, Mervyn Dillon, Vasbert Drakes, Daren Ganga, Chris Gayle, Wavell Hinds, Ridley Jacobs, Marlon Samuels, Devon Smith, Jerome Taylor.

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