Lara takes over from Richards as Windies top run getter

West Indies captain Brian Lara lines up to drive 
a delivery watched by Zimbabwe wicket keeper 
Tatensa Taibu on the second day of the second 
Test in Bulawayo 13 November 2003.  AFP PHOTO

Friday, November 14, 2003

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe (AFP): Captain Brian Lara smashed a breathtaking 191 to dislodge Viv Richards as the West Indies most prolific Test match runs scorer on the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe.

Lara passed the old mark of 8,540 when he reached 107 and his innings boosted the tourists' total to 481 all out before Zimbabwe reached 173-3 at stumps.

It was an innings of devastating power by Lara and by the time he was out, caught by Craig Wishart off Andy Blignaut, he had taken his career toll to 8,625 Test runs. 

He now has his sights on the 10,000-run landmark - only three batsmen have got there - Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Sunil Gavaskar. 

It was his 22nd Test century in which he struck four sixes and 23 fours in a majestic innings. 

On a miserable day for Zimbabwe, spinner Ray Price at least had a day to remember when he took five wickets to add to the 10 he collected in Harare last week in the drawn first Test.

Apart from Ramnaresh Sarwan, who scored 65 and figured with Lara in a fourth wicket partnership of 190, none of the other West Indies batsmen were able to stay long at the crease. 

Zimbabwe began badly in their reply. 

Vusi Sibanda, Trevor Gripper and Stuart Carlisle were all back in the pavilion with only 31 runs on the board. 

But there was to be no further collapse. Mark Vermeulen and Craig Wishart put on an unbeaten 142 for the fourth wicket.

At stumps, Vermeulen had made 60 and Wishart 86. 

Zimbabwe still need 109 more runs to avoid the follow-on.

Scoreboard at the close of the second day:

West Indies 1st innings
Chris Gayle c Taibu b Blignaut 47
Wavell Hinds st Taibu b Price 81
Daren Ganga c Matsikenyere b Price 23
Brian Lara c Wishart b Blignaut 191
Ramnaresh Sarwan lbw b Price 65
Shivanrine Chanderpaul c Wishart b Price 15
Ridley Jacobs c Gripper b Streak 1
Omari Banks lbw b Blignaut 3
Mervyn Dillon c Matsikenyere b Price 19
Corey Collymore not out 13
Fidel Edwards c Taibu b Blignaut 3
Extras (5b, 8lb, 5nb, 2w) 20
Total 481

Fall: 1-73, 2-146, 3-161, 4-351, 5-389, 6-394, 7-422, 8-449, 9-475

Bowling: Andy Blignaut 20-4-86-4 (2nb), Heath Streak 24-4-87-1, Blessing Mahwire 15-3-79-0 (2w, 3nb), Ray Price 43-1-199-5, Trevor Gripper 5-1-17-0. 

Zimbabwe first innings
Vusi Sibanda c and b Edwards 2
Trevor Gripper b Dillon 1
Mark Vermeulen not out 60
Stuart Carlisle b Edwards 11
Craig Wishart not out 86
Extras (5b, 7nb, 1w) 13 
Total (for 3 wkts) 173 

Fall: 1-5, 2-10, 3-31

Bowling: Wavell Hinds 3-0-14-0, Fidel Edwards 1-3-32-2 (1w, 3nb), Mervyn Dillon 15-5-20-1 (1nb), Corey Collymore 7-1-21-0 (3nb), Omari Banks 13-2-36-0, Chris Gayle 5-1-18-0, Ramnaresh Sarwan 5-0-27-0. 

Toss: West Indies
Umpires: R Koertzen (RSA) and S Taufel (AUS)
TV Umpire: I Robinson
Match Referee: G Viswanath (IND)

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