Lara releases another blockbuster

It is only the fourth time that the West Indies have scored more than 300 in the fourth innings to win a Test and it was a victory that looked extremely unlikely when they were 98 for six in the first innings after Australia posted 490.

In an enthralling day’s cricket at the Kensington Oval yesterday, the advantage swung to and fro.

Jason Gillespie quickly removed Adrian Griffith and Carl Hooper, both lbw, to leave the hosts in trouble at 105 for five.

Jimmy Adams then joined Lara and the pair who scored a record 322 for the fifth wicket in the second Test, set about a repeat. They again shored up their team in a rearguard partnership that realised 133 in just under three hours.

Lara was involved in a confrontation with McGrath during the stand after a fiery bouncer with the second new ball clattered into his helmet. Lara took a leg-bye and as he passed McGrath there was a heated verbal exchange.

But Lara quickly regained his composure, hitting the next ball he faced through mid-wicket for four to move to 81.

He brought up his 12th Test century a half-hour later, off 169 balls with his 14th four, a lofted on-drive off Warne.

McGrath struck the next over. The 29-year-old from New South Wales produced an unplayable outswinger from around the wicket that beat Adams’ defensive bat to clip off stump. The 31-year-old Adams made 38 from 125 balls, striking five fours.

That wicket fired up McGrath and, bowling a full length at good pace, he gained leg before verdicts from Eddie Nichols against Ridley Jacobs and Nehemiah Perry off successive balls to swing the momentum back to Australia at 248 for eight.

Lara’s two most experienced players were still to come — fast bowlers Ambrose and Walsh.

Needing 60 runs for victory, Ambrose joined his captain in the middle. The veteran bowler held up his end for 90 minutes and even chipped in with a couple of streaky boundaries during the partnership of 54. Ambrose contributed 12, but the 39 balls he faced were more crucial.

Lara had an escape when wicket-keeper Ian Healy missed a sharp one-handed chance with seven runs needed but two balls and one run later Gillespie had Ambrose caught at third slip by Matthew Elliott to crank up the tension yet again.

Courtney Walsh survived four balls, Lara took the scores level and then won the match by crashing Gillespie through the covers to spark a wild pitch invasion.

After scoring 213 to win the second Test almost single-handedly, Lara will lead his team into the fourth and final Test with his reputation as the world’s finest batsman now firmly back in place.

West Indies’ reputation, in tatters after a 5-0 whitewash in South Africa and a pitiful defeat in the first Test of this series, is also back on track.

Scoreboard

Australia (1st innings): 490

West Indies (1st innings): 329

Australia (2nd innings): 146

West Indies (2nd innings; overnight 85-3): Sherwin Campbell lbw b McGrath 33, Adrian Griffith lbw b Gillespie 35, Dave Joseph lbw b MacGill 1, Pedro Collins lbw b McGrath 0, Brian Lara not out 153, Carl Hooper c Healy b Gillespie 6, Jimmy Adams b McGrath 38, Ridley Jacobs lbw b McGrath 5, Nehemiah Perry lbw b McGrath 0, Curtly Ambrose c Elliott b Gillespie 12, Courtney Walsh not out 0; Extras: (b8, lb13, w2, nb5) 28. Total: (for 9 wickets in 102.1 overs) 311

Fall Of Wickets: 1-72, 2-77, 3-78, 4-91, 5-105, 6-238, 7-248, 8-248, 9-302

Bowling: McGrath 44-13-92-5 (w1), Gillespie 26.1-8-62-3 (nb 4), Shane Warne 24-4-69-0 (nb1), MacGill 21-6-48-1, Steve Waugh 5-0-19-0 (w1)

Result: West Indies won by one wicket.