South Africans fail to figure the 9000 Man

Brian Lara scored one of the most stubborn hundreds of his career as West Indies fought back on day three of the third Test against South Af...

Brian Lara scored one of the most stubborn hundreds of his career as West Indies fought back on day three of the third Test against South Africa on Sunday.

Lara’s 115 helped his side reach 427 in reply to South Africa’s 532, a deficit of 105. By stumps, South Africa were 38/0 in their second innings. Lara was last out, bowled by Nel after nearly five and a half hours at the crease. The dismissal gave Nel his first five-wicket haul in Tests, the paceman ending with 5/ 87.

Lara’s 24th Test century was a study in concentration and restraint.

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He took West Indies past the follow-on mark of 333, unleashing his trademark attacking strokes only on the rare occasions he was offered anything genuinely loose.

The captain spent just over an hour in the 90s and 25 minutes on 99, eventually reaching his hundred by hooking Jacques Kallis for six. In all, he faced 238 balls and hit 16 fours and a six.

Lara had come to the crease in the fourth over of the day after overnight centurion Chris Gayle was lbw padding up to Shaun Pollock. After racing to his century on day two off only 79 balls, Gayle’s 116 came in just over two and half hours. Ramnaresh Sarwan followed soon afterwards for 44, slapping a long-hop from Nel straight to backward point as South Africa’s bowlers dominated, conceding only 13 runs in the first hour.

Kallis claimed the wicket of Wavell Hinds, caught behind for 13, but after debutant Dwayne Smith (20) edged Nel to second slip shortly after lunch.