West Indies captain Brian Lara walks under an arch of bats as team-mates congratulate him on his record-breaking 385 on the third day of the fourth & final Test against England at Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s, on Monday. Lara later became the first player in history to score 400 runs in Test cricket. — AFP
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St John’s (Antigua), April 12
West Indies skipper Brian Lara became the first batsman to make 400 Test runs on the third day of the fourth Test against England here today.
Lara passed the milestone having earlier lowered the previous world highest individual Test score of 380 set by Australia’s Matthew Hayden in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Perth last October.
Lara broke Hayden’s record when hitting a four to put him on 384 sparking scenes of jubilation at the Antigua Recreation Ground. The West Indies declared at 751 for five, with Lara not out on 400.
Almost exactly 10 years after he hit a then-world mark of 375 against England on the same ground, Lara took his score from 313 overnight to 390 not out at lunch, with the West Indies on 734 for five.
Ridley Jacobs was not out 100.
Lara, struggling for form earlier in the series as England stormed to a 3-0 lead, reached 380 with a straight six off spinner Gareth Batty before sweeping him for four next ball to break the record.
He leapt in the air with delight before being congratulated by England’s players as the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The left-hander then kissed the ground before play resumed, having set
the record from 546 balls, hitting 42 fours and four sixes.
“It’s hard to believe,” he told Sky Sports after being a guard of honour by his team mates as he walked off.
“It’s a great feeling. It’s dampened a bit by the series result but we are going to press for a win. We need to get 750.” —
Agencies
