PORT OF SPAIN, 9 April 2005 — Brian Lara marked his return to the West Indies side with his 27th Test century on the first day of the second Test against South Africa yesterday.
Lara, left out of the drawn first Test in Guyana because of a dispute over personal sponsorship, was in magnificent form to take West Indies from a precarious 13 for two to 185 for three after tea.
His innings saw him leapfrog Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar into third place on the all-time list of leading run scorers in Test cricket. Lara began the match with 10,094 runs.
Chivnarine Chanderpaul, who retained the captaincy despite the return of Lara, won the toss and chose to bat on a green-looking pitch.
His decision was a bold one but South African fast bowler Makhaya Ntini made early inroads with two quick wickets.
In the sixth over Chris Gayle, who was also returning after sitting out the first Test, top edged a pull shot to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher having scored just six.
Ntini struck again in his next over when he induced an uppish pull shot from Ramnaresh Sarwan, on five, and the ball looped to Andre Nel at fine leg.
However solid batting from opener Wavell Hinds and Lara’s aggression halted the slide.
Lara made 41 not out before lunch as the hosts reached 71 for two, the pick of his six fours being a rifled pull shot through mid-wicket off fast bowler Monde Zondeki.
West Indies moved to 140 for three when rain stopped play before the scheduled tea interval, Ntini claiming his third wicket in the third over after lunch when Hinds edged a drive to Graeme Smith at slip to be dismissed for 32.
Hinds and Lara put on 95 for the third wicket. Lara continued to dominate the South Africa attack, hitting three crashing boundaries off Jacques Kallis in the 49th over of the day as he moved into the 90s.
The Queen’s Park Oval crowd rose to acclaim Lara in the 54th over when he pulled a short ball from Zondeki to reach his century in 137 balls, including 14 fours. Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 32.
Apart from Lara and Gayle, West Indies also recalled Sarwan and all rounder Dwayne Bravo to their side. Batsman Ashwell Prince and Zondeki returned to the South African team.
