Lara bids farewell

BRIDGETOWN – West Indies captain Brian Lara’s farewell to international cricket was spoilt by a run out and a thrilling one-wicket defeat by England in the final World Cup Super Eights match on Saturday.

Kevin Pietersen’s superb 100 helped England to their target of 301 with one ball to spare after out-of-form Michael Vaughan (79) scored his first fifty of the campaign. The retirement of Lara, one of the greatest batsman to have graced the sport, and England coach Duncan Fletcher’s imminent departure gave the match special significance even though neither team had a chance of progressing further.Lara’s disappointment at the defeat was compounded by his own innings – he only managed to make 18 before he was run out following a mix-up with Marlon Samuels in his final knock.While Lara, who holds the record for the top test score (400 not out) and highest first class knock (501 not out), ended his reign as captain with another loss, the match produced just the kind of entertaining cricket the 37-year-old values so highly.”Things didn’t work out as planned but still it was a very good game of cricket, it was a fitting way to end my career, runs galore, with over 600 scored in the day,” Lara said before making a lap of honour around the field, shaking hands with hundreds of fans.Coming in at his old position of number three, Lara received a massive standing ovation.ReutersThe retirement of Lara, one of the greatest batsman to have graced the sport, and England coach Duncan Fletcher’s imminent departure gave the match special significance even though neither team had a chance of progressing further.Lara’s disappointment at the defeat was compounded by his own innings – he only managed to make 18 before he was run out following a mix-up with Marlon Samuels in his final knock.While Lara, who holds the record for the top test score (400 not out) and highest first class knock (501 not out), ended his reign as captain with another loss, the match produced just the kind of entertaining cricket the 37-year-old values so highly.”Things didn’t work out as planned but still it was a very good game of cricket, it was a fitting way to end my career, runs galore, with over 600 scored in the day,” Lara said before making a lap of honour around the field, shaking hands with hundreds of fans.Coming in at his old position of number three, Lara received a massive standing ovation.Reuters