Lara shatters record

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – West Indies captain Brian Lara swept off-spin bowler Gareth Batty to the deep fine leg boundary for his 42nd four to reclaim the world record for the highest individual Test innings on the third day of the fourth and final cricket Test against England yesterday.

Lara equalled Australian Matthew Hayden’s 380 when he lofted Batty for a fourth six straight into the top deck of the Sir Vivian Richards Pavilion, and then moved on to 384 with a paddle between Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain at fine leg and backward square leg respectively to clinch the record for the second time. West Indies went on to declare their first innings at 751-5 with Lara undefeated on 400 and fellow left-hander Ridley Jacobs unbeaten on 107.The two have shared 265, unbroken, for the sixth wicket to help West Indies reach their highest Test score against England.Lara ran the full length of the pitch, leapt and punched the air in triumph.New Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer was escorted out to the middle to embrace the batting genius and offer him congratulations.”It’s hard to believe – a great feeling,” Lara said after being escorted off for lunch by a guard of honour.He added: “It’s been really, really tiring but I feel great.”Lara previously set the mark of 375 against the same opponents at this same Antigua Recreation Ground in 1994 that stood until Hayden erased it against Zimbabwe at Perth last October.On Sunday, Lara had joined the late, great Sir Don Bradman as the only two batsmen to complete two Test triple hundreds.The former Australia captain and batting legend also found England’s bowling to his liking and murdered 334 and 304 off them in 1930 and 1934 respectively, both at Leeds.Sachin Tendulkar, regarded by many as the world’s best batsman, paid tribute to Lara.”A great achievement, a fantastic feat,” Tendulkar told AFP ahead of the third and final Test against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi today.”It is certainly an inspiration for all modern batsmen.”- Nampa-AFPWest Indies went on to declare their first innings at 751-5 with Lara undefeated on 400 and fellow left-hander Ridley Jacobs unbeaten on 107.The two have shared 265, unbroken, for the sixth wicket to help West Indies reach their highest Test score against England.Lara ran the full length of the pitch, leapt and punched the air in triumph.New Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer was escorted out to the middle to embrace the batting genius and offer him congratulations.”It’s hard to believe – a great feeling,” Lara said after being escorted off for lunch by a guard of honour.He added: “It’s been really, really tiring but I feel great.”Lara previously set the mark of 375 against the same opponents at this same Antigua Recreation Ground in 1994 that stood until Hayden erased it against Zimbabwe at Perth last October.On Sunday, Lara had joined the late, great Sir Don Bradman as the only two batsmen to complete two Test triple hundreds.The former Australia captain and batting legend also found England’s bowling to his liking and murdered 334 and 304 off them in 1930 and 1934 respectively, both at Leeds.Sachin Tendulkar, regarded by many as the world’s best batsman, paid tribute to Lara.”A great achievement, a fantastic feat,” Tendulkar told AFP ahead of the third and final Test against Pakistan starting in Rawalpindi today.”It is certainly an inspiration for all modern batsmen.”- Nampa-AFP