Brian Lara proved that Indian bowlers could not easily take away the match as long as he was in the crease. With his brilliant batting show in the final day of second test at St Lucia, the lefthander has regained his batting form and lifted his team from possible defeat, and that too, by a huge margin.



His patience 120 has many implications. It is highest scoring century of Brian Lara against India. Previously, it was 103.



What is encouraging for the Caribbean cricket is the fact that the record holder batsman has regained his batting form, which ultimately put the visitors in trouble in the coming matches. Lara scored 18, 0 and 7 in his last 3 innings. Because of his discouraging batting performance, he dropped three places in the ICC test rankings.



He has now completed his 32nd test century, three short of Sachin Tendulkar. If Lara continues to maintain this form, he is very likely to overtake Sachin.



Brief Scores:



India 1st Innings: 588 (8 wickets dec; 148.2 overs)

V Sehwag 180 (190 balls), R Dravid 146 (234balls), M Kaif 148(243balls)

P Collins 4 wickets for 116 runs, C Gayle one wicket for 52 runs



West Indies Ist Innings: 215 (all out; 85.1 overs)

C Gayle 46(106 balls), S Chanderpaul 30 (79 balls)

M Patel 3 wickets for 51 runs, A Kumble 3 wickets for 57 runs, V Sehwag 3 wickets for 33 runs



West Indies 2nd Innings: 294 (7 wickets; 119 overs)



B Lara 120 (307 balls), S Chanderpaul 54 ( 113 balls)



A Kumble 3 wickets for 98 runs, MM Patel 2 wickets for 50 runs



Result : Match Drawn

Man of the Match : V Sehwag (India)





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