Top 5 Test match centuries from Brian Lara
Not as technically sound like Sachin Tendulkar nor a pronounce puller like Ricky Ponting, Brian Charles Lara was a legend by his own rights to his league of extraordinary gentlemen. Perhaps the only player after Sir Donald Bradman to notch up gigantic individual scores consistently at the highest level, Lara holds the record for the highest individual score both in Test and first-class level.
Making his Test debut against Pakistan in 1990, the man from Trinidad went on to become one of the greatest batsmen of all time. As a starter, he had a good team to work with but during the latter half of his career the West Indies team lacked depth and penetration and he was the lone warrior in the field. On his day Lara would destroy any bowling attack and had very little respect for opposition bowlers. His scores of 501 in 1st class cricket and 400* in Test cricket remains the highlight of his glittering and illustrious career.
Here we take a look at the 5 best Test knocks of Brian Charles Lara.
#5 153 vs Australia at Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados (1999)
Steve Waugh won the toss and opted to bat. Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose troubled the top order and reduced them to 36/3 but from there on Ricky Ponting and the captain took charge of proceedings and bailed the visitors out of trouble. Steve Waugh narrowly missed on out on a double century and was dismissed for 199 as Australia was eventually bowled out for 490.
It was Sherwin Cambell’s century in the 1st innings that helped the hosts reach the score of 329, 161 runs adrift of Australia’s first innings score. It was an inspired bowling spell by Courtney Walsh that skittled out the visitors for 146 in their 2nd innings. Walsh bagged a five-wicket haul and Ambrose and Pedro Colins chipped in with 2 wickets each.
Chasing a stiff target of 308 in the fourth innings, West Indies got off to a worst possible start and was reduced to 105/5 but what transpired next is a piece of history now. The stylish left-hander from Trinidad played the best fourth innings knock of all time and took West Indies over the line with a wicket to spare. It was a monumental effort by the legend constructing the innings with 19 fours and one six. The win enabled the hosts to take a 2-1 lead in the 4 match series.