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Lara leads the St. John's Feast

Monday, April 12 2004

Brian Charles Lara became only the second batsman in Test history to score two triple centuries (it goes without saying that the other is Don Bradman) as the West Indies racked up an imposing total of 595-5 at the close of play on the second day of the Fourth Test at the Antigua Recreation Ground in St. John's, with the Trinidadian batsman on 313*.

Resuming on 208-2, England needed to make early inroads on a pitch as docile and unresponsive as it was yesterday, despite the Saturday afternoon showers. To cut a long story short, it didn't happen - Lara hammered Matthew Hoggard's first ball of the day for four through extra cover, and the tone was set. The century came within twenty minutes of the start of play, and the Prince of Trinidad showed no sign of slowing up as England tried seven possible bowlers, including both Marcus Trescothick and Michael Vaughan.

Ramnaresh Sarwan was unable to stay with his captain to reach his own century, however, as Stephen Harmison struck with the second new ball, Sarwan nicking to Trescothick at slip with his own score on 90, the team on 330 and after a partnership of 232. Ricardo Powell, playing only his second Test match, joined his captain, but only made 23 before a typically injudicious piece of shot selection resulted in a top-edged attempted pull off Simon Jones, and a skier for Nasser Hussain to take at third man.

Lara continued onwards, relentlessly, and Gareth Batty felt the pressure as the West Indies skipper steamed through the 190s, with a straight six into the car park, swept four and single to tick the score over onto his seventh Test double century - tied with Walter Hammond and "just" the six behind the legend that is Bradman. He was well on his way towards 250 when the Worcestershire spinner picked up his second wicket of the day as Ryan Hinds (36) only found the leading edge with an attempted leg glance for another caught and bowled.

Five down only meant that Ridley Jacobs, whose one weakness this series, short pitched bowling, was unlikely to be exposed on a pitch showing a distinct reluctance to get above waist height - Trescothick, who by now had bowled fifteen overs, sent down possibly the slowest bouncer in Test history, and Batty was the bowler who was again at the receiving end as Lara posted 250 with another cover drive, and 300 - with a mere push through the offside. The triple came up from 404 balls in 576 minutes and included 34 fours and two sixes.

A final psychological blow was struck in the last over of the day as England skipper Vaughan's distinctly occasional off-spin was sent rapidly and at altitude into somebody's car parked behind the long on stands. Unbeaten on 313* at close, with Jacobs alongside on 47* and the stand reaching 126*.

The World Test Record Individual score is 380 (Matthew Hayden, Australia v Zimbabwe, 2003) and the West Indian record is 375 (Lara, v England, 1994). The West Indian record Test total is 790-3 (v Pakistan, 1958 - Sobers 365*) and the highest against England is 692-8 (1995). The highest West Indian sixth wicket stand against England is 274* (Sobers & Holford, v England, 1966). All of these records are under a distinct threat tomorrow - and on a pitch that looks less likely to produce a result inside five days than a sloth triathlon, what else is there to play for?

West Indies 595-5
BC Lara 313*, RR Sarwan 90
GJ Batty 2-141, SJ Harmison 1-79

Posted by Neil